Covid impact evident on Adivasi students’ education; regular classroom a must

Adilabad: The Covid19 pandemic has started showing its negative impact on the education of adivasi students in old Adilabad and the state in general.

The pandemic has hurt the schooling system. Resumption of regular classroom teaching can help re-generate interest for studies among the adivasi students and bring them back to schools. Otherwise, many adivasi students will see an abrupt end to their education before reaching the high school level.

Many students are drifting away from educational pursuits. They are learning to drive tractors and four wheel vehicles to settle down as drivers. Some of them have engaged in agricultural works to support their parents after discontinuing their studies due to closure of government schools in the old Adilabad district.

Some adivasi girl students ended up as babysitters in villages where their parents got busy with agricultural operations.

There is no proper monitoring of the adivasi student's education during the Covid pandemic from the government as also the parents' side. Adivasi community elders and leaders of their organisations have failed to take care of their children's education during the pandemic.

Many adivasi students at high school level have, on their own, not utilized the pandemic period to improve their language skills and subject awareness. They rather discontinued their studies at home too once the residential schools were closed.

Instead, many of them spent their time in travel, pilgrimage and cultural activities.

Adivasi parent Sidam Anil Kumar of Jainoor said the pandemic had an adverse effect on the adivasi students and it was very difficult for them now to compete with others at examinations.

Educational standards are low among the adivasi students as compared to other groups. Two academic years have gone waste without much learning. Students were upgraded to higher classes and the government gave all-pass to SSC students due to the pandemic situation.

Government schools and hostels have remained closed since March last year and teachers are conducting online classes for students. But, online classes have not helped adivasi students in any significant manner. Many of these students do not have cell phones and those who have face network problems.

Generally, adivasi students’ attendance percentage in government schools and tribal ashram schools would be low during the festival season. The pandemic situation further affected their education.

Adivasi children enjoy teaching with play, listening to stories and dancing in schools. Online classes will not provide or create such an atmosphere for them.