During the coronavirus pandemic, schools were forced to close to avert the spread of the novel virus and more than 30 million students were affected. According to the World Bank report, almost 1 million students have dropped out of school during the pandemic. To ensure the continuity of learning, the government has introduced remote education through digital tools like mobiles, laptops, radios, and television. It has supported distance education during emergencies, buttressing learning during teacher shortages, and served as complementary support for teachers and schooling.
However, this move does not have much positive significance for the students of less developed areas with poor or limited electricity and internet supply. The government should take strong measures to enable distance learning in remote schools in under-developed regions. Solar-powered tools like radios, tablets, laptops, and Wi-Fi sets should be introduced in areas with a modest supply of internet and electricity priority.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is working to introduce solar tablets, solar-powered transistor radios, and other information technology (IT) equipment as part of its $2.4 million in grant support for distance learning to poor and disadvantaged families in remote areas of Asian countries during and beyond the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It will help achieve the learning continuity plan developed shortly after the pandemic started. The project is even more important as it works on the effectiveness of technology-assisted learning delivery in remote schools. Such projects work to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable educational environment.
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