June is proving to be uninterruptedly nightmarish for the country in the context of its war against the Covid pandemic due to a huge swelling of cases and deaths. This is undoubtedly a hard hit at a time the processes of fine-tuning efforts to return back to normalcy are at play and the ‘syndrome of indecision’ over and across various issues is quite perceptible. Among these, the most delicate seems to be the reopening of educational institutions. In the light of the fast-changing scenario which is troubling to say the exact, Monday’s consultative meeting convened by the Capital DC with various stakeholders to weigh the pros and cons regarding reopening of schools and colleges in the state was of much importance.
Expectedly, the participants have in unison suggested that it must not be before August 31 strictly. The sentiment expressed can well be understood- the high degree of surge in cases in Arunachal over the preceding week was unexpected a bit which has resulted in erosion of confidence among the citizens that was on a high note due to a solitary case which was also successfully brought out of danger. But, under the fully altered dynamics, it’s obvious now that it will be too risky to go for an opening right now since it will lead to a chaotic situation altogether, putting the lives of thousands of students at extreme vulnerability. In this backdrop, it will be pertinent to recall the inputs from the Union HRD Ministry that came a few days before from which it’s more or less clear that it’s definitely not before August 15, a decision of commencement of classroom-based educational activities can be taken, that too after evaluating the prevailing Covid-defined circumstances then. Across the world, it’s unmistakably the same feature. But the main difference between the Indian scenario and the West is that when it will be possible for the latter to make good a substantial part of the lost academic session(s) due to the lockdown through online classes and other related modes of e-learning, it’s largely not the case for the former and certainly not for Arunachal.
If ‘Digital India’ is a phenomenon, Arunachal’s participation to the goal has till date remained far from emphatic. There’s no answer how long it will take for the state to have a healthy internet infra. The current ‘lesson’ the pandemic keeps on teaching is that the hour has arrived when a war-like zeal is required to overhaul what is technically as well as  literally construed as  ‘Internet of things’.
Had it been meaningfully sound, the state might have faced the impending education crisis more confidently. The state’s student fraternity must be feeling the same.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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