AMMAN — As the
government eyes the return of classroom learning in September, experts, parents,
and teachers raise concerns regarding educational gaps created due to the lack
of efficacy of online learning.
اضافة اعلان
Experts
speaking to Jordan News said that distance learning is a “flawed
alternative” to classroom education.
Khaled
Taqatqa, an educational expert at the
Ministry of Education, pointed out that
educational gaps could affect student’s educational progression.
"Students
in general are not ready and they lack knowledge. I wonder for example how a
fifth grade student would proceed to sixth grade, where educational curricula
gets harder, in this current situation," said Taqatqa.
"Classroom
education is much better than distance learning,” said Taqatqa. “Students
receive education and knowledge more efficiently when in the classroom, they
work hard and interact with their classmates and teachers. In-person education
gives students a feeling of commitment.
"Despite
all this, I would say again that we do not have another choice. The pandemic brought
us to this point; it is no one's fault,” he said. "Distance learning is
better than no learning at all. It is used to fill the growing educational
requirements created due to the pandemic."
Taqatqa
added that "parents take a major role in this. They have to be responsible
and help their children get the right and enough knowledge and education.
Parents should let their children think and depend on themselves. They should
not solve their homework, because if they do so we will not be able to for evaluate
students’ progress.”
Likewise,
Hala Mohammad, a third grade teacher, told Jordan News that "I
believe that some parents are careless and irresponsible. They do not give
their children the care and attention they need.
"Parents
should be taking the teachers' roles. Teachers help students in school and
interact with them, and parents should do the same thing in their homes,”
Mohammad said, adding that parents and teachers need to work together to ensure
students get the “education they need”.
"I
cannot say that distance learning is bad," she said. "It could be
great if students and their parents work together with teachers to achieve the
desired goal."
The national
Back to School campaign has submitted a letter to
Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh calling for a clear plan to return to in-person education as soon as possible.
The campaign warned of the negative repercussions of online education.
From his part,
Abdel Hameed Khazaleh an educational expert, highlighted some of the benefits
of online learning. He believes that online education gives children more room
to play and socialize.
Khazaleh
told Jordan News that "from my own experience, not only as an educational
expert but as a father too, distance learning is even better than classroom
education, where students are committed to specific learning hours. They cannot
skip them or spend some time to play with their friends or talk to them."
Khazaleh
explained that "I want my children to have friends and engage with them
but at the same time education is a priority for me. Nowadays, during distance
learning, my children are in my sight. I monitor how they study and pay
attention for them."
Ahmad
Hassan, a seventh grade student, told Jordan News that "outstanding
students do not care whether they get in-person or distance learning. They only
do what they are required to do despite the conditions or the place."
Hassan
added that "I and a group of my friends are having distance learning and
that has not affected our studies. We are doing our homework and studying for
our exams just as we used to do in schools — nothing is different."
"I
advise students all over Jordan to study hard despite all the conditions they go
through. In the end, we cannot guarantee that life goes smoothly, without ups
and downs, our whole lives,” he said.
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