The announcement by the Ministry of Education of the existence of three scenarios for the application of distance education, caused mixed reactions among the students ’families, divided between those who reject the idea, and agreed to implement virtual education on conditions, most notably the reduction of tuition fees in half.
Educators described the reactions of the students ’relatives about the remote education scenarios as“ emotional, ”and that it lacks a distant view related to the students’ interest and future labor market requirements.
In detail, parents of students who accept the decision to apply distance education next year in the event that the new Corona epidemic (Covid-19) continues, and an anti-virus vaccine has not been reached.
But they demanded, in this case, to reduce the tuition fees by no less than 50%, because schools will not bear any operational costs, noting that «the integration of distance education in the education system reduces the burden of schools and increases the burden of parents».
They added that the expansion in the application of the distance learning system, after the end of the “Corona” crisis, can be accepted in specific cases, provided that it does not overshadow traditional education in schools, so that it can be applied during the month of Ramadan each year, and during the periods leading up to exams, and witnesses an absence Collectively every year, in addition to its application during periods of bad weather.
The parents of students, Muhammad Naeem, Moataz Ali, Amani Ahmed, and Walaa Mustafa, said: “In the event that conditions require us to distance education, as is the case these days, it is inconceivable that we risk our children and demand traditional study in schools. But if the epidemic is over, and things are back to normal, e-learning cannot be applied in natural conditions, especially since this type of education was created primarily to provide an educational system in exceptional circumstances to overcome the challenges of long distances, weather conditions, and the high financial cost of formal education, and therefore "It cannot be a substitute for the usual educational system."
They demanded the ministry to take into account that “schools not only provide education, but also provide sports and social activity, unlike distance education, which places the student in isolation and inactivity, especially since the majority of families of private school students are residents of the state, and places of residence do not provide The student has freedom of movement, in addition to that the distance education system holds the students ’majority the majority of the responsibility for the education of their children, and the teacher turns into a person who sends the homework and receives it again to correct it, while the guardian takes charge of his children and continues their academic achievement».
Magda Hassan, Mona El-Sayed and Maram Ahmed said that distance education has increased the connection of their children to computers and telephones, and that mothers bear the greatest burden within the distance education system, not teachers, because they do not communicate with students for more than 30 minutes per day, to assign them to duties .
And they emphasized that «the school is much better than distance education, in terms of education, social mixing and improving the personality of children».
And the parents of students, Shadi Traboulsi, Wadad Abdel Halim, Mary Ayoub, and Shaima Ghassan, called for a reduction of tuition fees by at least 50% of the current fees in the event of a distance education system of the next academic year by 100%, pointing to the possibility of identifying educational bodies with Specialization Tuition fees for private schools based on the readiness of their e-learning system, and the number of hours of education that they provide to students daily.
On the other hand, administrators and educators in private schools, Ahmed Nazim, Suleiman Al-Saeed, Abeer Abdullah, Sherine Jaballah and Malik Rafik, stressed that the reactions of students and their families regarding effective remote education scenarios, indicating that the integration of the traditional education system with distance education methods It does not mean dispensing with attendance to schools, but rather the division of tasks and duties, and reducing the number of hours of the school day, which the students ’parents repeat their complaints each year, and replacing that by providing additional educational programs that stimulate students that can be used while the student is at home.
They also affirmed its compatibility with the requirements of the future labor market.
They continued that, by providing distance education, individual differences between students could be overcome by providing teachers with enrichment exercises for the most distinguished among them, and recording lessons in a simpler way for non-performing students. It also allows the use of educational aids and videos to increase students' understanding. It expands the involvement of parents in the educational process.
For its part, the Ministry of Education confirmed that the decision regarding the form of the educational system that will be applied in the next academic year is still under study, indicating that the appropriate decision has been taken based on the health situation and precautionary measures. The assistant undersecretary for the school operations sector, Fawzia Gharib, revealed the day before yesterday that the ministry had developed three future scenarios for the distance education system, linked to the pandemic of «Corona». And I indicated that the first scenario is the continuation of "Covid 19", where virtual education will be 100% remote, and smart education will be the focus of education in the state, while the second scenario is the transitional phase after the virus has been displaced and the state has fully recovered from it, and will be in a gradual manner where education returns The direct rate ranged between 30 and 50%, and the third scenario is a development plan that the ministry seeks in the event of life returning to normal, and includes the incorporation of two types of education, the first is direct and natural education (classroom), and the second is virtual distance education, But this will be done in proportion and proportion, you may The percentage of direct education is 70%, and virtual education is 30%, so that we can keep pace with technological development and the transition to digital education in the country.
People of determination
Parents of students of Hmmam students confirmed that the tuition fees for this category are much higher than the fees of other students, due to the provision of special educational needs for them, and a shadow teacher, and with the implementation of the distance education system, there is no longer any benefit from the aids, and therefore schools are not entitled to collect tuition fees More fees for students in general.
They added that their children are among the groups most affected by distance education, as they have lost the most important advantage in education for them, which is to integrate with healthy children of all ages to acquire skills that will help them improve and depend on themselves in the future.
They pointed out that the inclusion of their children of determination in the regular classroom aims primarily to not isolate them from their community and their basic environment which is the school, and work to address their psychological, behavioral and social problems, and work to develop their academic and life capabilities.
Distance Learning evaluation
The Ministry of Education confirmed a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the distance learning system for government schools in the country, private schools in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain during the months of May and June, based on the recommendations of the Education and Human Resources Council, noting that it has adopted the criteria and mechanisms for evaluation.
She explained that the evaluation criteria include three main axes, focusing on teaching and learning processes, the positive development of students, the role of the school and the school leadership in managing distance learning processes and distance education resources, to ensure students have access to useful and appropriate educational opportunities.
The Ministry indicated that the evaluation is applied to public and private schools in the country through coordination with educational authorities through the use of available online platforms.
According to the evaluation, the schools will be categorized according to the effectiveness of their application of the distance learning system, the extent to which students benefit, and the readiness of teachers.
"Education" confirmed that the decision to form education in the next academic year is under study.
Students:
"Distance education holds parents the most responsibility for educating their children."
Educators:
"Integrating traditional education with distance education does not mean dropping out of schools."