Basanta Baruah
(baruahbasanta14@gmail.com)
The global pandemic of Covid-19 has indeed brought many changes into our day to day lives. It has destroyed our economy on the one hand and it has given people some mental stress on the other. Many businesses have to depart from the screen. A large section of people has become jobless. The nationwide lockdown has ended in smoking many dreams and aspirations. Now, though the Covid situation seems to be under control, people are afraid of starting any new business. They are totally confused. News of Covid is still on some satellite channels.
It will indeed take some time to restore normalcy. Though all these seem to be a total loss, it's obvious that good days will surely come again. Everything will be normal after some time. It may take some time, but, surely, nothing lasts forever.
There's not a single section of society which is not affected by the Covid-19. Among all these, the section that has suffered the worst is the student community.
Due to the pandemic, regular classes had been suspended in schools and colleges. Online classes started in place of regular classes. Some examinations were not held and some, on the other hand, were held in online mode. Results of some examinations, which were not held, were declared based on previous assessments. The student community is badly affected by Covid-19.
Now the question is all about the efficacy of the online education system and the post-Covid impact of mobile phones on the students in the name of so-called online education. Nobody can indeed be static in a dynamic world. Moreover, during this dark period, there was no alternative to the online education system. So, people were compelled to walk with time. But the point is: whether the students are benefited from the online education system in the real sense of the term, whether they have gained adequate knowledge to make themselves eligible for upper standards. Whether they have completed their syllabus related to the next level. These are some very relevant questions which are closely connected to the students.
It must be said that despite having some great advantages and positive effects, most parents tried to keep their children away from mobile phones and the internet before online education. It's because most parents are aware of the negative sides of the internet. Many families had no mobile phones. Many had phones, but no facilities for the internet. Sensible parents didn't allow their children to use mobile phones. Mobile phones were not regarded as an essential device for students at the school level before the pandemic. But the global pandemic of Covid-19 has completely changed the entire scenario. Parents, who tried to keep their children away from mobile phones and who used to advise their children not to use mobile phones, were compelled to provide them with an android phone with the net pack as the education system was made online during the global pandemic. It's time that brought this rapid change to the student community and the entire society as a whole.
The concept of imparting education through online mode can never be underestimated. It's indeed a timely solution. To learn something is indeed better than nothing and most of the students were greatly benefited from it. But now the matter of concern is the post-Covid impact of mobile phones on the students, i.e. mobile addiction or mobile mania.
If one goes to neighbours or relatives, the picture becomes clear. There was a time when some kith and kin or guests came home, kids used to enjoy their presence. They made conversations with the guests and spent quality time with them. The whole environment became jubilant. A bond of love was certainly there. But today the picture is completely different. Kids are busy with mobile phones. They are so busy with a mobile phones that they have no time to talk with the guests or other family members. Let alone guests or family members, they pay no hid to anybody. They are busy only with Facebook, WhatsApp, youtube, making reels etc. Neither culture nor hospitality is found in their behaviour. They have forgotten the human qualities, social interaction and socialization.
Everybody knows the adverse effects of mobile phones. Too much use of mobile phones may cause some serious health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression and various mental diseases. Moreover, fake news, fabricated stories, and wrong information available on some posts on social media and some websites may misguide or mislead the kids. The antisocial elements such as pornography, and exciting videos may develop some negative thoughts among the kids. But still, a large number of parents pay no hid to all these and a section of parents is unaware of the fact.
It's very upsetting that in the name of online education, a large number of parents have arranged an android phone with a net pack somehow, and they feel that they have completed their responsibility. It seems that providing the mobile with the net pack is the only responsibility of the parents. They have no time to look into the online activities or changing behaviour of their children. They get self-satisfaction thinking that they are doing enough by providing a mobile phone. But whether their kids are utilizing the phone or misusing it, all these are minor things for them.
Now the Covid situation is under control. People have started normal lives. Regular classes in place of online classes have been started in schools. So, it's time every parent rescued their children from mobile addiction by taking back the mobile phones from their children or limiting their use as far as possible. But it seems that Covid is about to finish, but mobile addiction among the students is still high. Wherever one goes, the mobile phone using a picture of kids is very common.
No doubt that mobile is one of the fastest means of communication. Android phone with internet facility is very useful. It has immense benefits. Students can acquire knowledge from it if it is used properly. Limited use of mobile phones under the supervision of parents can never be bad for school-going students. But if there is no control of parents over the kids on the use of mobile phones or their activities, it's sure that such kids will go astray. It may be the reason for the downfall of the kids. It's indeed a serious matter. Parents should take it seriously. As regular classes have started, parents should try to keep their phones away from their kids. Instead, kids should be involved in games and sports. Parents should try to cultivate good habits among the kids. They can bring home storybooks, comics, magazines, biographies, autobiographies and various books on general knowledge. By observing the interest of the kids, parents can make necessary arrangements for their children. They can engage their children in various co-curricular activities. Parents must give time to their children to bring out the best in them. One thing is clear we have lost many people, so many things during the pandemic. It's indeed a big loss. But if we can't rescue our new generation from mobile addiction developed after the pandemic, it's sure that society is going to face such a great loss that can never be compensated.