Technology can never take over the traditional education system

From the morning assembly to the last bell that ends the day, from the noisy corridors to the silent libraries, from the lively playgrounds to the queued canteen during recess, from the wait to wear coloured attire on Children’s Day to please teachers on Teacher’s Day, nothing can replace ‘formal school learning’, no technology ever can.

As soon as a teacher enters the classroom, she can hear the whispers and giggles, see the innocent stares, a quick exchange of notebooks and smiles… they all stand up to her and she thus starts her day at school and so do they. 

Not in their wildest dreams did they think that the vacation would be so long, they had to see their friends and teachers from the screen.... How do we exchange those naughty glances ma’am? 

Those little mischiefs, sharing tiffin during recess or waiting to meet the teacher outside the staff room after class to get that extra doubt cleared…how do we do it ma’am? First time in 11 years I as a Principal didn’t have an answer to this. My voice choked and my eyes couldn’t keep the tears inside. 

How could I possibly say to children we are imparting education online, it’s artificial intelligence that overpowered us, we are on the blended learning mode, you all are becoming technologically advanced…… somewhere that emotion is missing, somewhere that warmth is missing, somewhere something is missing we should all honestly agree on that….for that always I somewhere hesitated to console them, but had to as it is the need of the hour. 

Did technology really replace a teacher or a school? Could we achieve our goal by introducing a new improvised curriculum, evaluation strategy through numerous webinars and online discussions? 

Those questions remain unanswered. 

Are we not creating unsocial, emotionless youth in some way?

Education plus technology is needed but cannot create a holistic development of a child. We as educationists are overlooking the discipline, personality development, development of communication and writing skills which no technology can provide. 

We need more vigilance, responsible citizens and rapid vaccination.

People who still think that vaccination is not necessary should understand that due to their perspective they are destroying the upcoming generations and giving a chance for technology to overpower. 

In a way due to only technology based-education, it is regressing us in the veil of progression.

Debdutta Bera Adhya, principal, St. Paul’s Academy, Hajipur, Bihar. Views expressed are personal.