Perspectives of Guyanese students and teachers on E-learning.

DUE to the covid-19 pandemic, physical classroom settings were disrupted and forced to be held via online mediums. From March to now, all levels of schooling in Guyana had to adapt to these changes. With technological advancements, students have access to lecture sessions via web cameras. They can have access to on-line reading materials and they can even write examinations in the comfort of their own homes. Guyana’s school systems are still adapting and implementing these advancements to allow students to continue their academic journeys.

Some students might agree that on-line learning is more tedious and challenging, but others might argue that it is more effective than the physical learning experience. Every student learns at a different pace during face-to-face classroom interactions and they all have varying adaptability skills that allow them to excel in their own unique ways. E-learning is no different. Do these changes have an impact on the quality of education being offered to students? Are teachers equipped to be teaching via online mediums? What do the students of Guyana’s soil think of these advancements, changes and systems that are currently in place for them and their studies as it relates to E-learning? Let’s find out!

Tamesh Mohabir- Secondary School teacher at the New Amsterdam Secondary School
“When schools went into lockdown, I felt hopeless with regards [sic] to how I will teach the students under my care. What made it worse was the fact that all of my classes were exam classes — both CSEC and CAPE. Nonetheless, online teaching has been wonderful for me. It has given me the opportunity to explore the depth of my creativity as a teacher, as well as an opportunity to build and enhance my knowledge of the various educational technology advancements available which will, in turn, help me to better fit into the ever-advancing 21st-century classroom. Also, it is very flexible in terms of the timing, as I am able to teach at a time that is convenient to both me and my students and most importantly from the comfort and safety of our homes. Further, I am able to get more work done in far less time since we don’t have interruptions as you would in the traditional classroom, for example, disciplinary issues, spontaneous meetings, etc. Also, it provides me with a multitude of avenues to use various teaching aids such as videos, graphics, drawing pads etc. to help my students fully understand the concepts in a very fun and intellectually stimulating way. In a traditional classroom setting, I won’t be able to do these things due to lack of internet, electricity, projector etc.”

Seeta Dalloo, third-year Social Work Student, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus.
“Many persons are of the opinion that online learning is the most convenient and efficient way of conveying educational classes. Due to the worldwide pandemic; the COVID-19 outbreak, online learning has become the most dominant medium for disseminating information in regards[sic] to educational information. While this may all be true, I am of the strong opinion that Guyana is not prepared for a fully on-line learning experience. I base my opinion on several facts which all support my position on this matter. For instance, I believe that the differences in social classes are vital factors. The poverty rate speaks volumes in representing the unequal educational opportunities persons of the lower classes will be presented with if Guyana implements a fully on-line learning platform. Thirty-six percent of the population will be disadvantaged in regards [sic] to having the necessary resources to partake in on-line classes, thus resulting in them not having a formal education. Additionally, the quality of service provided by internet suppliers is below par. It is, to the dismay of many persons and myself, a fact that the prominent suppliers of internet services offer poor and unacceptable quality due to various factors. Unless this is improved, it is simply impossible to participate in online sessions as a result of the inconvenience caused by these ISPs.”

Micah Williams- Secondary school student at the Bishop’s High School.
“At first, I was on the fence about whether or not I’m for or against online education, but when I actually started thinking about it, I began to lean more to the “against online school” ideology. Personally, I believe that the educating of students online has more cons than pros. My reason for believing this is that, yes, there are measures that must be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but, due to many issues with on-line education, it’s just not working well. Some of these issues would include:
– The unavailability of stable internet and electricity for every student and teacher.
– Some teachers not being capable of teaching properly on an on-line school platform.
– The lack of proper socialising between “student and teacher” and “student and student.”
Yes, this is necessary to continue to educate students while preventing the spread of COVID-19, but it isn’t very efficient.”

Ashminie Persaud- Secondary School teacher at the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School
“Sometimes a little over or under 50 percent of the classes are able to keep up with the work and assessments because of internet connection issues. Which means half of the class may be moving forward while the others try to catch up whenever they have access to internet, which is not very often. This is a very sad reality for many of the students I teach. From the few responses, I can tell that the students do not understand many concepts because they are used to having an explanation face-to-face. They are used to asking questions and having the answers showed to them, mostly in practical forms. For the Form 5 students, SBA tasks are hard to carry out without face-to-face interactions. This is more difficult for subjects such as agricultural science. Part of the SBA is practical and must be done on soil; in person. I am satisfied with the Ministry of Education’s decision, but at the same time, I hope that we maintain control of COVID-19 in schools and receive full cooperation from parents and the community to guide our children out of school hours.”

Summayah Elizabeth Hussain- Secondary school student at the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School.
“Unstable WiFi and limited data plan have been challenging. I have a hard time loading and downloading work coming from learning forums such as Google classroom. It is hard to grasp the content that the teachers are teaching online because there is no face-to-face interaction. The discussions cannot flow constantly and the class is demotivated to learn more. This is the case especially for those who need more time to catch up to others, because not every student can learn at the same pace. I am actually having a hard time with my SBAs because even though the teachers are doing whatever they are able to do online, it’s hard to understand certain SBA tasks and instructions without a face-to-face interaction and explanations from our teachers. I would like to actually thank the Ministry of Education for making the difficult decision that will allow us, the Form 4 and 5 students to return to schools. It is important for us to be accommodated back to school because CSEC examinations are very close by. Students like myself are concerned over our performances if online learning continues.”

Joshua Sargent- Final-year Medical Rehabilitation Student, College of Medical Sciences at the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus.
“The transition from physical classes to virtual classes has its ups and downs. The advantages of being online were having classes from the comfort of my home; I won’t have to travel to risk exposure to COVID-19. However, the disadvantages and downsides of this are unstable internet connections, constant power outages and even noise from younger family members. In addition, grasping the practical components of my courses also puts me at a disadvantage, being a student physical therapist. The word ‘physical’ says a lot in being able to graduate. It truly is a challenge and for many of us, our prospective professions depend on it at the University of Guyana.”

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