‘Online teaching’ or distance education allows students and teachers to go back to school, while being at home. In this period of pandemic, it is a method that has several advantages but also some disadvantages.
This year, the Ministry of Education has tried to better prepare for this method compared to last year. Indeed, it has set up a committee to help the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) to develop the academic programs. In addition, the Early Learning Digital Programme for primary students and the Student Support Portal for secondary students are being used for the same purpose.
Thus, students in Grades 1 to 6 follow educational programs on television, prepared by the MIE in collaboration with primary school teachers, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI) and the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), and those in Grades 7 to 9 follow programs prepared by the Open University of Mauritius (UOM)
Students in grades 10 to 13 attend virtual classes via the Zoom or Google Classroom platforms, among others. The heads of the schools ensure that the teachers follow the established curriculum.
However, all these methods have their flaws. No one can force a student to attend a class online or even on TV, for example, in cases where parents are at work. Moreover, the interaction between teacher and student does not exist with television.
Another disadvantage is that not all students are equipped for online classes. In some regions, access to technology is not as good. This can cause a two-tiered learning experience when the physical school year begins on July 5. In other cases, it is the teachers who are not equipped with the computer equipment or who do not have the skills required to teach online classes. Some teachers also fear abuses, such as having their image or voice found on social networks without their knowledge. There is also the problem of clashes between classes as in one family, there may have or 3 children and one television.
Some also believe that distance learning will never replace a regular classroom.
