For the time being, it has been hard to come with the ongoing academic progress, when existence is hard when people are dying in hunger when the economy is in a recession when innocents are in jail when rape and violence are rising when anxiety and depression have created their institutions all around. Moreover, constant news cycle, feelings of near dystopia, and being quarantined in our homes is a lot to deal with. What has become more difficult is to come out of this rut.
During this time, when the world is crossing through sudden changes, it becomes hard to remain calm and stress-free. The anxiety becomes visible when there is no clarity about how the remaining academic year would pan out, and the uncertainty regarding the university exams would take place.
It is challenging to keep a catch with the ongoing process when many of us do not have appropriate resources such as proper internet facilities, books, materials, or just had to leave their places without carrying anything. Many of us went home during a short break without carrying anything with us, and students are asked to vacant hostels or PGs to leave in a panic. In contrast, students are already stuck in places and not able to reach their homes due to the suspension when transport facilities COVID -19 crisis began.
On 6th April, UGC has recommended universities to set up help lines for student’s community to address their psychological health, and this is a necessary action taken by them where students can communicate to the psychologist through the medium of mail, call, or text. The effort appreciated in all aspects with positive insight. Nevertheless, it is necessary to understand that the listed solution on online sites are not enough for a student to mitigate their worries and many of us have to rely on the online process of education when we not prepared for this, and we are unable to access resources, due to which all the anxieties that are captured at one place is exploded to us right on our face. As there is no substitute for classroom teaching and textbooks
In the condition of disarray, students are burdened with a plethora of assignments and submission with strict deadlines by completely overlooking the fact of geography as most of the students live in rural areas where connectivity issues are so prominent. There are many places where the internet has no reach apart from that there is a socio-economic background that evokes and constitutes as a barrier with this ongoing process of an online class, and further creates a class gap between rich and poor where accessibility of education has become a privilege. At the same time, many students belong to families which are below the poverty line for whom eating a piece of bread is the priority, then attaining education in this time of hardship and all these scenarios further create a class hierarchy and inaccessibility for other students which leads them to the paths of anxiety, depression, financial burden, and mental stress.
Along with that, there are many physically disabled students for whom it is becoming difficult. With that, they are students who are living in several riots affecting areas and students from Kashmir for whom the condition is already traumatized. With no internet connectivity, it becomes difficult for them to meet the deadlines with the fear of lagging and losing out grades. With that, some trans-students who are not able to adjust with their families and have to face violence and oppression. The expression of freedom to do things freely and the comfort of living a healthy life is anyhow not viable for many people at their places.
With the whole scenario, it is very threatening to look that after this, the rate of female- students going college dropouts will be increased due to socio-economic fall down from different backgrounds, with the same it is creating fear among students for getting jobs and internships. Their trauma is becoming more complex and deeper.
It has to notice that in past days the issue addressing the mental health of students has deviated to the issue of conducting exams or promotion of students when students are unable to cope up and get back to their normal states when the syllabus is still left. It is necessary to determine the fact that any step taken in this direction will directly affect the future of a vast number of people. So the guidelines should be issued in the way which creates a less panic situation for students and a comprehensible pathway for them to focus on their studies. Also, there should be help lines where more young and dynamic people are appointed from various backgrounds.
At last, it is essential to create a reliable infrastructure for this problem where there should alternate ways rather than promoting online education as they only promote disparity and exclusiveness in society. Though students have protected ourselves from being at home, they are not provided the same shield to their minds. So it is necessary to talk, to communicate, to come up with all the anxieties. Though it is tough to remind that one is “more potent than one’s anxieties, “though it is challenging to articulate whatever is inside the mind, still, it is necessary to take time and move with your speed as it is imperative to feel all the emotions before moving on to something as its not the time to prove your worth that has always been inside oneself. Also, shaming people for not being productive at this time is very irresponsible, as it is a high time for everyone to understand that it is a pandemic, not a productivity competition.
Very nicely done!