BY GOWHAR RASHID
As the viral world subsumed the whole of humanity and hit almost every sector across the nations. The most affected sector among all is education, the indefinite closure of educational institutions in Kashmir valley due to abrogation of article 370 and the SARS-COV2 pandemic. It crippled the whole education setup and spawned virtual classrooms. The children have to appear before the computer or smartphone screens. The time spent by the children on these gadgets is worrisome and this is the only concern that can lead to having complaints of headaches, eye problems, and stress inducer. Some reports reveal an enormous rise in vision linked anomalies like eye strain, dryness, reddening, and myopia in kids and teenagers after the dawn of digital learning arises. Eyes are indispensable gifts from Allah (SWT) to a living being. As I having myopic eyes can comprehend the true essence of vision and the difficulty to wear spectacles. Time spent on screen also paving the way to other activities like watching obscene stuff, online gaming and social media, etc. According to the Researchers, screen addiction among children after COVID-19 is a growing concern and is becoming more noxious than cannabis. Too much exposure to such gadgets gives rise to anxiety and seclusion eventually leading to depression. It may cause stress on the growing toddler brains as in actual classroom there they get break intervals, interaction with a friend and surrounding atmosphere a flourishing platform for the learning process. Digital education is masquerading and putting curtains on the improper stuff watching by the toddlers in the name of online classes. This obscene stuff could crumble the blooming buds. Children may stumble across content online which is not appropriate for their age. Childhood is the age to unravel things but unfortunately, they are grappling with incendiary events. A sound mind could reside only in a healthy body. Increased use of technology may have an impact on their growing physique and brains. The more time spent by these blooming buds on these devices decreases the amount of time spent on performing outdoor activities and physical exercise. This sedentary lifestyle among children can lead to major health complications like obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Childhood is a beautiful and best part of one’s life.
As aptly said by the poet Bashir Badr
“Udne do parindon ko abi shokh hawa mei
Phir laut ke bachpan ke zamane nahi ate”
Childhood is a wonderful bout in which the creativity and the personality of an individual groom. The digital learning technology at this early age is redundant as the creative capacity of a child can be significantly contorted and shriveled. The power of imagination in them starts cowering. The video games played in front of virtual screens keep the kids isolated from the real world. As I ponder on this issue I am foreboding that this digital education could turnout out to be a sweet poison that will be pernicious and wither the blooming buds.
I think the best way to curb this looming and outrageous threat is to set free the primary class kids from this digital learning process. School authorities should release a proper syllabus and parents should be wary towards their wards in completion of their assignments otherwise this digital education may convulse the careers of the children.
Gowhar Rashid is a Ph.D. Scholar at Department of Clinical biochemistry ,Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar
