Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are more vulnerable than others having more needs related to health-care, safety and accessibility.
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has contaminated the societies with fear, anxiety and stigmatization. This pandemic has affected the lives of million people on earth in order to maintain their routine and social activities, however, the impact is heavier on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities. It can be assumed that they are dully affected by the situation; one for having disability and second for not having accessibility while facing social isolation.
It is to be considered that COVID-19 narrates different levers of exclusion for Persons with disabilities as this pandemic is over and above to catch a person irrespective of any discrimination.
In one way it is a great lesson to learn for humanity that nature treats all in a similar way and it is us who create levels and parameters in distribution of resources and rights. This novel disease was originated in Wuhan, China initially as epidemic but spread rapidly in world within few days. The World Health Organization WHO declared it as pandemic in March 2020 and issued safety measures and preventions to deal with this precarious enemy. The whole world gets into locked down, including educational Institutes. According to a recent report by UNESCO, 150 countries around the globe closed educational institutes that affected more than 80% students during the month of March2020. Pakistan declared it a national emergency in February 2020 and locked down the country in second week of March 2020 as the situation got serious with the report of confirmed COVID-19 cases from many cities. According to recent reports, Punjab has more cases than other provinces. This lockdown had multifold effect affects on educational activities. All educational institutes were closed including higher education institutes and universities.
However, the present government is aiming high and is ready to facilitate universities in taking intensive preventive measures to protecting students and faculty. This article is an effort to highlight the potential impact of terrible COVID-19 on the education of persons with disabilities in higher education institutes. Higher Education Commission is active in dealing the whole situation and placed order for universities to initiate online classes. For the purpose of capacity building and having arrangements for online quality teaching, HEC has announced summer vacations up to May 31, 2019, so that meanwhile Universities may upgrade their systems for online teaching through Learning Management System (LMS).
Although, it is a great opportunity to be familiar with technologically advance learning system which advanced countries are already using appropriately for distance, adult, remote and for the education for vulnerable groups. HEC has also constituted COVID-19 Technology Support committee for the purpose of identifying capacity and to prepare guidelines to assist universities in establishing virtual system of education with clear instructions with no compromise on quality of education. This decision of HEC is a great endeavor but a country like Pakistan with poor technology literacy and less internet connectivity is facing many problems. Especially, persons with disabilities, who are already facing neglect and marginalization in academia due to limited accessibility. Unfortunately, the enrolment of Persons with disabilities at school level is only 5% whereas as at higher education level it is less than 0.5%.
Now the situation of online classes will create more challenges for the successful inclusion of persons with disabilities in higher education institutes. The expected challenges could be; shifting of online classes from face to face teaching which is important for students with hearing impairment; it could be more perplexing while majority of PWDs have no internet connectivity and laptops for online classes. One more thing is provocation for the challenge that might be an assigned recourse person is techno-savvy and will be unable to cope with this mode of teaching. The second major challenge of online teaching will be assessment and evaluation; it will be a complex procedure for online teacher to arrange separate assignments for student with disability according to the level and category of disability.
Moreover, the integrity of honesty in giving online feedback will also be a challenge for teachers to evaluate.
This online assessment can have adverse effects on grading of these students. Third major reason is related to no resources for making arrangements of online equipment’s, as study indicates that majority of persons with disabilities are living below poverty line in Pakistan. They cannot purchase equipment’s and get training to use them. Fourth one is another priority matter that is related to mental health. As persons with disabilities face multiple psychological problems due to varied attitudes form society and system, they are more prone to mental health issues in this situation of uncertainty having low levels of immunity. The authorities must consider these challenges for the successful and equitable inclusion of Persons with disabilities and should not leave anyone behind in this hour of need. The safety and well-being of all students must be a priority along with the promising quality education in any case. It is a high time for the administration, faculty and students to learn from the situation and to come up with doable solutions. For this purpose, all universities must designate a special taskforce for facilitating students with disabilities. The task force may identify the potential needs of students and design clear directions for faculty members in conducting online classes, recorded lectures, mid-term exams, assignments and projects.
There must also be flexibility for those students who are unable to participate in online course due to certain reasons. Moreover, universities must ensure mental health support by providing health and safety guidelines along with stress management in facing social distancing. University counseling centers may extend their services online for the facilitation of students in case of any need. Other offices such as examination and admission offices may also be upgraded with online facilitation for persons with disabilities in accessing results and course registration process. Allah promises us that “With difficulty is surely ease.””Beshak mushkil ke sath asani hai.” (Quran 94-Al-Inshirah verse-6).
So being Muslims, we do have faith and hope to get through this pandemic soon but with the right decisions and planning for the future of our nation and persons with disabilities considering the equal right bearers.
The writer is a PhD scholar and can be reached at [email protected]