India has been one of the hardest-hit countries by COVID-19. Beyond the staggering impact on human life, COVID-19 has greatly disrupted access to education in India, with 247 million primary and secondary school students out of school. 

While school systems in India and across the world have made efforts to reach students at home through various means, recent estimates of the impact on learning and socio-emotional well-being suggest that the poorest children will be hurt the most by the pandemic-related school closures.

Indeed, school closures have compelled education systems to quickly devise and apply different modes of remote learning such as radio, TV, and various other types of online tools. 

But access to this education technology (ed-tech) differs across and within countries—with students in high-income countries and communities much more likely to have access to online, virtual schooling than their peers in low- and middle-income countries and communities.

Education innovated faster than ever before, and while many of our solutions were developed in response to the pandemic, the lessons learned are critical to building more equitable education systems. Not all students thrived in digital and distance education. The experience was particularly difficult for the youngest learners and those without devices or having to share devices. 

However, these simple innovative ways have not just improved attendance in remote schools, but also improved the learning levels of the kids.

Focus on the disabled 

Yogendrakumar Patel has come up with various ways to involve kids with mental disabilities in school activities by giving them responsibilities and providing opportunities for differentiated learning. The students are sensitized to accept and involve mentally challenged kids in regular class activities. 

Various success stories of mentally-disabled people are shared in the classrooms to encourage the students. A one-on-one session is also held to understand the child’s state of mind and find his interests.

Science huts 

Dharmeshbhai Ratilal Patel has set up a science hut to help students conduct various experiments. Patel encouraged students to build a Science hut and put up useful charts and posters along with other interesting science-related news articles and pictures. 

He then prepares a list of experiments to be conducted throughout the year and divides students into different groups. Various group leaders are elected, who guide other students to conduct various successful experiments. In addition, various dramas, events like Science Week, activities, etc are conducted in the hut to get rid of superstitions among villagers and promote science.

Tackling teacher shortage

Paresh Shantilal Dand has come up with a simple idea to deal with the teacher shortage in remote villages. Various educated volunteers from the villages are selected to fill the vacant positions in the schools. Once selected, the volunteers are trained in the fundamentals of teaching. 

After proper training and guidance, these volunteers start teaching the kids in the teachers’ absence. They also monitor the student's progress regularly.