Photo of empty desks in a classroom
Source: Peter
Peter of Joyful Source discusses the long-term impacts the coronavirus pandemic will have on the education system.
Having to live through a global pandemic is not easy, but it’s something all of us are doing as we speak. This is changing our lives in more ways than one, yet there’s almost nothing we can do besides stay home.
However, thinking about the future and hoping it’s bright is another thing we’re all doing every single day. This is particularly true for our young ones who are always thinking ahead and trying to figure out what their future will look like.
So what is their education going to look like after we’re done dealing with COVID-19 and how is this pandemic going to affect their education in the long run? Here are some of the things you need to know about this issue.
The Social Impact
Very few kids actually love going to school, but what they do love is hanging out with their friends. This is great for their social life and growth, which is why school is such a crucial part of their lives.
When our children aren’t going to school on a daily basis, their social lives are suffering, which is one of the biggest problems the youngest generation is facing.
According to several studies, the social lives we have in high school affect us even when we’re older, and that’s why this could be a bigger problem than we can realize. Not being able to attend school will have a lasting impact on our children and might even change the education system forever.
That’s why teachers and parents are going to have to try extra hard to make up for the time the children have lost during this pandemic.
The Knowledge and Skills
There are lots of reasons why children have to attend school whether they like it or not, and the most important benefit of education is the knowledge and the skills they gain. This is what prepares them for their future and shapes their lives.
What we don’t know right now, though, is how are our children going to learn all those things they’re supposed to be learning while they’re out of school. Depending on how much they’ll miss, they could face a significant gap in their education, which is why the education system will have to go through some changes.
Our kids will have to make up quite a lot very quickly, and the education system will have to create a platform to help them do that more easily and effectively.
The Alternative Solutions
One of the things we can look forward to when it comes to post-COVID-19 education are alternative solutions. This doesn’t mean children won’t have to go to schools anymore, but it does mean there’ll be more options their parents can choose from.
Most importantly, learning centers might become more popular than ever – they allow your kids to work in small groups and create a supportive environment where your loved ones can feel safe and ready to give their best.
Some of them, such as the amazing Monkey Tree in Hong Kong, for instance, are also online-friendly, which means your children can do all the learning they want without leaving home. That’s a win-win solution all parents are going to appreciate.
The Graduates
When your kids are still young, your biggest concern is how to encourage them to fall in love with the school and understand why this institution is so crucial in their lives.
When they get older, it’s all about getting things done in the most successful way possible – that’s the issue graduates and their parents are dealing with at the moment. Because of COVID-19, graduations and graduation ceremonies all over the world are being postponed, and there’s very little we can do about it.
Of course, we can find a solution if we’re ready to think outside the box. In Japan, for example, graduates are being replaced by robots – while this might not be the perfect solution, it’s much better than risking anyone’s lives.
In other countries, graduations are set to take place in the fall, and the education system needs to take that change into consideration as well. We need to set new dates and find a way to help graduates to enter the labor market without any setbacks, but this entire process will take a lot of time and energy.
In Conclusion
Fighting COVID-19 is a hard and exhausting battle, and it’s taking a toll on all of us. Right now, we need to protect our lives and the lives of our kids, but thinking ahead is also important. It’s crucial to be there for your kids once this crisis is over and help them as much as you can.
Head on over to Joyful Source to read more of Peter’s work!
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