Perspectives of the Teachers on Challenges and Possibilities to Online System of Education amid COVID-19 Outbreak in Balochistan, Pakistan

Abstract

The study investigates the issues of access, quality, and other major challenges to the online system of education for students in Balochistan during this pandemic of Covid-19. Using the mixed-method design, 100 participants from schools and 7 curriculum experts responded to the survey and the interview questions. Survey results suggested that majority of the schools have enough digital devices, and teachers, to some extent, have skills to use technology in teaching, but limited electricity, funds, weak internet connections, and teacher training were some of the major challenges for them. In interviews, the participants showed disappointment in terms of responsiveness of the curriculum because the textbooks have manifold deficiencies in responding to online education. Considering these deficiencies, proposals were suggested to cope with the existing situation. The findings of the study call for the need on the part of the academia, educational stakeholders, and elected representatives to start joint efforts with national and international donor agencies, technology benefactors and telecommunication operators in developing digital infrastructure to provide students with access to education, quality, and lifelong learning through various pathways. The findings can be generalized to other underdeveloped regions both within and across the country, as the public schools are confronting the same issues and the online system of education has not yet been initiated.

Cultivating Critical Thinking, Social Justice Awareness and Empathy Among Pre-service Teachers Through Online Discussions on Global Citizenship Education

“…Furthermore, several studies (Aguirre-Mendez & Mahoney, 2020; Gul et al, 2023; Huda et al, 2018) indicate that students who participate in online learning that focuses on cultural exchange undergo intellectual transformation. In a study (Ahmad & Gul, 2021), participants reported developing a stronger sense of civic leadership and social justice beliefs through online engagements.…”

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“…This provided the policy makers and educators with a chance to learn more about the feasibility of online education as well as the measures that could be taken to fill the gaps. One of the main concerns that emerged from the research studies was that the younger age groups need support of parents in most of the educational activities carried out online (Gul et al, 2023). An added burden comes upon parents who had to deal with their daily professional activities as well as supervision of their children's educational activities.…”

“…The pandemic provided us with a chance to adapt and uncovered many areas of improvement regarding integration of technology in any educational programs. This could lead to innovation in learning like flipped classrooms, blended learning and overall flexible customized approaches to teaching and learning that can be used to achieve literacy rates and student retention ratios in formal education at all levels (Gul et al, 2023).…”

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“…By area, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan (Gul et al, 2023). It covers the largest area of Pakistan and is important because of its geographical and statistical location but the resources are not available for the entire population in Balochistan.…”