Believe it or not, students are longing to get back to class

Attending
college and meeting friends, attending lectures and discussing ideas is one of
the major points of one’s growing years. Late teens to early adulthood are
spent in the college. When educational institutions were shut  when the
pandemic started, students now starting receiving instructions online. It all
seemed very innovative at first. Sitting in the comfort of one’s residence,
wearing comfortable clothes and learning the finer points of a major chemistry
problem that has befuddled the world can be a very great experience. Over
time however, the situation changes. People enjoy the existing arrangement for
a while but then look back with fondness at a past. Many of them seem to want
to return to a classroom. Aryan
Bhobe a first year student of mass communication said he was attending online classes
with others for the past seven months.  He said “I would prefer to receive
instruction in person.  I would like to use the facilities of the college.
I am now in the first year and I have not met my class mates as yet. We met
once for a workshop for a very short time. It is a bit frustrating; I would
like to meet my batch mates and the seniors. I miss my friends. I miss the
healthy discussion we have in the class while learning something new. I have
had enough of online classes. I miss the human element for sure.” Abisha
Fernandes a student at a college in Panjim said she wanted to desperately go
and study in college but the fear of attracting the virus was a very strong
fear. She said she was very bored sitting at home in front of a laptop trying
to learn something quite difficult. She said “Sometimes I just cannot
understand what it is the teacher is trying to explain. Yes, the teacher makes
all the effort to help us understand but something’s are done better face to
face. There is also the problem with the network which people all over Goa
face.  Give the classroom any day.” Rahul
Fernandes who studies in a college in Vasco said he missed his friends a lot.
He said “Yes, I can meet them outside now but sitting in class with them and
learning new things is great. Now I am alone at home in front of the computer
learning. It does not compare.”  Dylan
Dias another student from a college in Panjim laughed when asked the question.
He said “I am bored and fed up. I would like to go back to college but it would
be very important the safety precautions be followed strictly. I would like
temperature checks conducted before anyone enters the class and everyone wear
their face masks whilst in class. Yes I miss my friends for sure and would like
to learn with them but we will have to follow all the precautions”. Cliff
S Cruz a student of a college in Mapusa said he was missing the campus as well
as his friends. He said “I don’t want the virus for sure but it is getting a
bit crazy sitting at home and studying. I am studying accounts and some
subjects can be taught online but then there are other subjects where its gets
really difficult. Some teachers know how to keep everyone attentive, others
less so. It is generally getting quite boring for everyone. I would return to
college in a jiffy but the fear of the virus keeps me at home.” A
teacher who did not want to be named because she is not authorized to speak on
behalf of her college said the online initiative but since everyone was human,
they craved face to face contact. That was something which could not be
forgotten. She hoped offline classes would start sometime in the year. One
can only hope it happens but with all the protocols being followed rigorously.