Paediatricians propose online education as solution to present challenges

Claiming that both the teachers and children were facing difficulties in attending school due to the scarcity of fuel,Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians said online education has the potential to be the solution until the country overcomes this challenging series of adversities. 

They said in a statement that online education has its disadvantages, but given the limited number and modes of the substitutes available to provide uninterrupted education, online education may serve the purpose. 

"Proper guidance and supervision with organizational support will avoid unwanted missed days of school. Strategic planning to continue education uninterruptedly will be the best investment the country can make for centuries. Most of the teachers including those even in the most rural sectors are quite conversant with the online learning platforms and hence supporting this good cause would be a less tedious course. The policymakers would appreciate the pros and cons of each type of education at different institutions, as more transport issues are likely to prevail in urban communities, where technology is likely to be at its best when compared to rural communities. Hence, tailormade methods for each category of schools," the statement added.

"We, at the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, are willing to join hands with the Ministry of Education and the government in this tedious task to overcome the challenges likely to be faced in delivering this educational service which will affect several generations to come. 

As the premier professional academic organization concerned with child healthcare, representing academics and clinicians responsible for the health of the future generations, we believe that we truly need to initiate and support the uninterrupted delivery of education to the children of our land. While appreciating the hard work done by the teachers in attending to this tremendously challenging task, we would like to reemphasize the importance of their role in this endeavour. We do pledge to support very strongly, all efforts that would be made by the relevant authorities in the required initiatives.

We should all join hands and stand together to mitigate this worst social dilemma that has engulfed us as the material scarcities may only cause wounds that heal, but the adversities faced by our children are most likely to leave scars for a lifetime to come," they added.

"As the country was about to see some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of COVID-19, and with the schools reopening and adapting to the new normal, a new challenge emerged for our country with the worst economic crisis ever to be faced in the post-independence era. 

With the scarcity of fuel, transport has become the worst affected, with both the teachers and children facing difficulties in attending school. Further to this, the schools were closed on several occasions due to a lack of modes to commute for school attendees, adding to the unfortunate woes that were seen as sequelae of the pandemic," they said.