COVID effects on Education of children
(Watch Video) Story of Arti
A digital divide is an economic and social inequality with regard to access to, use of, or impact of information and communication technologies (ICT).
COVID-19 has given us the New Normal for children. They no more carry their bags and go to school, walking or in bus. They instead sit at home, switch on the mobile phone/computer or I-pad and log into the virtual classroom where the teacher is ready to impart the lesson. But in most of the household, COVID-19 has taken away jobs, financial security and severely affected education. When millions of people are in deep financial distress, especially in rural areas, buying an electronic gadget for their children’s digital learning is the last thing on their mind.
And for students from the underprivileged sections of the society, getting a smartphone, Tablet, Camera or computer is far from reality. This is where SADRAG can make a difference in their lives, and bridge the digital divide.
The 3As factor features the existing digital divide in the country through a three cornered hindrance, particularly in context of children from impoverished families:-
- Availability – reliable, easy to use and trouble free digital tools may not be available at right price and with efficient service. The systemic issues related to industry may be important here.
- Accessibility – The digital tools may be shared in a family with the adult earning member using it the most. The patriarchy and gender may be the defeating reasons in this context.
- Affordability: The family may not be able to afford the one time cost of purchase and recurrent cost of maintaining the digital tools.
In the emerging New Normal way of life, need for digital literacy has not only increased but has become the necessity of life for all especially for the children who may otherwise have to compromise with the 3As.
The Story of Arti is the story of the wide Digital Divide across SE, Rural-Urban and Gender in India whereby millions of people are deprived of ICT tools. How do children keep pace with school learning when the 3As – Availability, Accessibility and Affordability aspects are out of their reach!
SADRAG Digital Bank
Launched on 15 August 2020 amid the scare of Corona virus and nation-wide lockdown, Digital Bank has made Online learning accessible to 16 children and youth of migrant communities.
How it works?
Step 1
Identification of Digital tool Donors (software & hardware) & Compilation of children in need
Step 2
Matching the Donor and the Children (w.r.t Age, Requirement & Purpose)
Step 3
Training the child to use the tool either by SADRAG team or the donor
Step 4
Monitoring the use of tool for 2 months including replacing or repair of tool if needed.
Hewlett Packard CSR Initiative
Continued Learning Access Project (CLAP) Noida
The Continued Learning Access Program caters to the grassroots where children and the youth have got cut off from schools and skill training because of Covid.
HP CLAP targets students from India’s economically weaker sections and low-income strata with no digital device to support their school lessons. In schools most of the time we learn computers theoretically due to the unavailability of the IT infrastructure. Our motive is to reach every person in the community and educate them about the computer, its functions, and conduct computer-based training.
HP CLAP has a mobility Van loaded with 120 laptops Google Chrome books. It has a generator for power and also a UPS inverter for power backup and laptop charging facility. With the help of vehicle, we aim to cover maximum number of schools as per the predefined schedule.
