Vacations, Timings, Technology
Online education is no longer a contingency plan, it is an inevitability, a future waiting to be welcomed. Yet we remain stubbornly hooked to romanticising blackboards and brick walls as though they are sacred emblems of learning. Will it continue for another century before we even begin to grasp the concept, let alone prepare for it? Well, tradition has its own value, no doubt. But our imagination and preparedness must not trail decades behind a world that is moving at broadband speed.
Evolution certainly takes time, and that is reasonably understandable, but allowing it to be slowed down by wilful ignorance is entirely unacceptable. How long will we continue to treat technology as a temporary or last-minute fix rather than a fundamental part of education? Why do we shy away from the obvious truth that the classroom of today must be just as digital as it is physical?
Take the current situation in Kashmir. A sweltering heat wave has brought physical schooling to a near halt, yet rather than exploring practical solutions, we are again busy debating whether to extend summer vacations or adjust school timings to avoid scorching heat. Well, is this truly the best we can do? In a region where natural and political disruptions are not rare, should online learning not already be built into the system? But no, as always, we act surprised. We wait for a crisis to hit, and then scramble for patchwork solutions. The tools are there. The need is clear. And still, we hesitate. If this is not a sign of chronic poor planning, what is?
Why do we always leave ourselves at the mercy of divine intervention? Are we so incompetent or reluctant to take charge of our own future?
We saw this story unfold during the Covid lockdown. The pandemic was the world’s most comprehensive pilot of online education. The world had no choice but to shift online. The enforced transition revealed the challenges, but it also proved the model works. It kept learning alive. That moment should have been enough a lesson to educate and prepare us for the new normal in the context of teaching-learning. But now, barely a few years later, we are back to square one, pretending that the emergency was an exception, not a lesson.
Our paralysis is not mainly about infrastructure or teacher training, it is about leadership. It is about mindset. From primary schools to universities, we need a complete systemic overhaul. We need leaders who see technology not as a last-minute workaround but as the very canvas on which new pedagogies are painted. We need leaders who are able to reimagine delivery, assessment, inclusion and engagement for a digital age.
It is high time we take inspiration from institutions that have already shown the way and left a legacy. I think it is time to learn from one of the finest institutions of the country like BITS Pilani, where I had the privilege to contribute to the phenomenal vertical like WILP. This cutting-edge enterprising model is truly an inspiration and must be replicated in essence. It exemplifies what vision, leadership and execution can achieve when digital education is treated not as a makeshift arrangement but as a transformative force.
And then there is the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. We love to talk about it. We quote it in conferences and seminars. We fill brochures with it. From regulators to institutions, everyone is busy beating its drum, but very few have dared to embrace its soul. Well, in essence, the policy needs action and honest execution rather than grand speeches or ambiguous hype.
The time for slogans is over. The time for planning is now. Integrate digital and online learning into the DNA of our education system. Not a fallback, not an afterthought, but a viable pillar. The initiative ought to be backed by policy, investment and professional development. To make it a success, we need skilled educators, enablers and leaders with the courage to move forward.
Until we stop romanticising the past and start building for the future, we will remain trapped in cycles of delay, confusion and missed opportunities. The writing on the wall is clear and the message could not be louder: adapt, or be left behind!
Adil Bashir, Higher Education Policy Advisor and Digital Pedagogy Expert
