The 111th radio program as part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) counter-radicalization initiative Ulasi Taroon (Social Cohesion) discussed online learning and conduits for communication during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first guest on show, Prof. Faisal Shehzad from Islamia College University, Peshawar, noted that it is the duty of state to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years, as obligated under the article 25-A of the constitution of Pakistan. It is the responsibility of state to take all possible steps for accessible, equitable and quality education. This means a huge onus especially during the crisis like COVID pandemic, to continue to ensure citizens’ right to education while also not jeopardizing their health and safety.
The option of online education – during this entire crisis – served as a most effective alternative to traditional learning, to stay connected with the students by shifting to digital conduits for communication. While it may not be the perfect option, but no learning process is devoid of problems and we should not let perfect to be the enemy of good.
With the resolve to educate, the learning process never stops even in the absence of digital technology and internet as we witnessed in the past crises; especially in the times of Spanish Flu, where the learning continued and teachers and students communicated through letters, books and notes.
The second guest at the show, Mr. Shahabuddin, Ulasi Taroon Alumnus and a student of Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, noted that COVID crisis is an opportunity to explore innovative ways of learning and improve the present system of education. The present online model of education is in the experimental phase both for students and faculty.
The third guest on show, Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, Director, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Peshawar, noted that besides the devastating effects of crises, they always help us develop emergency response mechanisms to prepare for future crises in advance. For example, fifteen years ago, when the earthquake hit Pakistan, we did not have expertise of disaster risk management but after that earthquake, we realized that we should get prepared in advance about such calamities. Therefore, we set up a disaster management department and resultantly, in 2010 and 2012, we faced floods and they were relatively managed.
Similarly, we explored the potential of online conduits for communication during this pandemic, and unleash it uses for education the way never thought before.
About Ulasi Taroon
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of Center for Research and Security Studies that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of KP in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of strengthening social cohesion and promoting peaceful co-existence.