Study on the impact of COVID-19 on education at Doomdooma

DOOMDOOMA: The COVID - 19 pandemic disproportionately affected the marginalized sections globally. With the closure of schools, online education has emerged as substitute. The children from unprivileged sections of the population have been the worst hit. Assam has been even more vulnerable to the pandemic.

On the gendered impact of COVID - 19 pandemic on the lives and education of children in India, including Assam, a national survey was carried out. The study was initiated by Champions for Girls' Education and led by Centre for Budget and Policy Studies in 29 districts five States in India viz. Assam (5 districts), Bihar (8 districts), Uttar Pradesh (11 districts), Telangana (4 districts), and Delhi (1 district) in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods and earnings of families living margins, and its relationship with the education of children ; the impact of school closures and lockdown on girls' education, including the changes in the social and familial environment that could impact enrolment and retention of girls in school and the landscape of the institutional and policy interventions with potential or intent to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on girls 'education.

With the aim of having a detailed discussion on the findings of the survey, the District Dissemination Meeting on the topic 'Life in the Time of COVID -19' was held recently at Doomdooma Press Club under the auspices of Purva Bharati Educational Trust (PBET) Prayas and Champions for Girls' Education where Bandita Acharya, director of PBET, shared the key overall and Assam findings focusing on the gendered impact of the pandemic on school-aged children, followed by discussion with the distinguished guests. Addressing the gathering, Doomdooma MLA Durga Bhumij assured that he would raise this issue in the proper platform and extend all possible help in solving the problems.

Addressing the gathering as guest speakers, the Principal of Doomdooma College, Dr. Prakash Jyoti Borthakur, Ramen Boraik, DPO, SSA, Tinsukia, Sunil Mishra, CRCC, Kakopothar Block Harinath Sarania , Labour Inspector, Tinsukia and journalist Abhijit Khataniar offered their suggestions on how to bring back the students to schools in post -pandemic period. The meeting was attended by a good number of teachers, guardians and civil society members.