The New Normal(s) in Education in the COVID Era in India: Aftermath and Challenges

Abstract

—The sudden emergence of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has brought with it many changes. All
sectors including the education sector have been badly affected by this pandemic. The scenario that we termed
‘Normal’ and which existed before, no longer exists now. When this pandemic ends, the New Normal may last
for months, years, or forever. In the present paper, the Researchers aim to understand the changes triggered in the
education sector of India due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. A careful analysis of the existing digital divide in India
and its impact on the Online/Virtual Classes has been made to understand the effectiveness of Virtual Classes. A
Survey was among 1,462 students of Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
on COVID-19 and its impact on education. The Survey results indicate that in future, education will travel hand
in hand with technology and in future, Blended Learning might very well be the new norm. But what we are left
now with is an unequal access to education due to digital divide and other socioeconomic reasons. In order to
rectify this situation, investments must be made to ensure that Education and Technology reach even the remote
areas. It can be concluded that the way forward is to change the education and impart practical skills that are
necessary for survival in unforeseen situations and to ensure that we are not caught off guard.