Students and COVID-19 pandemic

The past year hasn’t been easy for anyone. In just a period of few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has introduced radical changes, which no one was ready for, including student.  

Apart from the devastating health consequences for those directly affected by the virus, the COVID-19 pandemic holds major implications in the lives of students pursuing higher education. 

It has affected their physical and mental well-being in profound ways.  

Campus closures were enacted out of caution. It is an already known fact that the college students are the most vulnerable group in terms of mental health.  

The onset of pandemic might have destabilised the worsened situation more. The surveys have shown massive surge in stress and anxiety among students.  

For many, pandemic concerns revolve less around getting sick and more around the loss of grade points, college credits, and income.  

One of the crucial problems faced by many is the forced process from in-person to online learning.  

This deepened the digital divide – the gap between those who have access to internet technology at home and those who do not.  

The corona virus pandemic has spurred the uptake of online education rapidly. The mass transition was not a smooth process in a country like ours.   

If ad hoc digital solutions don’t work for students and teachers, the experience could stymie online education’s future growth.  

Colleges and universities administrations trying to ramp up online education under present circumstances is appearing to be not ideal. 

Clearly, the shift to online learning was an unplanned. The workload of assignments ever since the transition has increased and the learning is less than ever.  

Trying to keep up with attendance, submitting assignments on time has become the primary objective. 

Relying on shortcuts and digital student hacks are on the rise. 

Over the past year and a half, Zara has been planning moving abroad for further studies at an international business school in Japan.  

She had already applied and been accepted into the program in March, when the second wave of the pandemic began to change things. 

“It’s just not what I’m used to,” Naina said, when asked about transition from physical to online class. 

The mental health of the student population has been a major concern for several years and the pandemic has certainly exacerbated this problem. 

The lack of awareness of the pressures and health issues dealt by the students are always undermined.  

The general idea is that, with learning online it is so much easier and you have the comfort of staying at home. That is a standpoint of a privileged, we have to acknowledge.   

Policy priorities and resource allocation may need to be rethought to provide additional targeted assistance to students who have been impacted by Covid?19?associated psychological trauma, bereavement, or financial instability.