Online Learning Among Primary and Middle School Children in Rural Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India- A Story of Inequitable Distribution
LC28-LC32
Correspondence
Christina Mary P Paul,
No. 32, O Block, 36th Street, Anna Nagar East, Chennai-600102, Tamil Nadu, India.
E-mail: christinapaul82@gmail.com
Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted education and has resulted in a lot of educational losses which is bound to be more exaggerated in the rural areas. The present study was done to assess the availability of prerequisites for online learning among a rural population. The study also looks at the school dropout rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural population in Tamil Nadu, India.
Aim: To estimate the access to digital devices and school dropout rates in a rural population, to find the hassles faced due to online learning and to identify the risk factors for dropping out of school.
Materials and Methods: The present community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural field practice areas of Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College (KVMC) situated in Chinna Kolambakkam beyond Chengalpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India and data collection was done between June 2021 and August 2021, using a semi-structured proforma. Data was collected from 256 children between the ages of 6-14 years residing in a rural area in Tamil Nadu, to learn about their transition in education during the pandemic and to identify the factors determining dropping out of school. Associations between school dropouts and socio-demographic factors were found using Chi-square test.
Results: Out of total study participants, 131 (51.2%) belonged to primary school and the rest belonged to the middle school category and there were 138 (53.9%) boys and 118 (46.1%) girls. Of all the study participants, 39 (15.2%) had dropped out of school. Dropouts had a statistically significant association with lower socio-economic status (p-value=0.00000007), lower educational status of the father (p-value=0.043), male gender (p-value=0.037) and belonging to a private school (p-value=0.045). Only 25 (9.7%) owned the gadget, they were using to attend online classes.
Conclusion: The current study has revealed high school dropout rates (15.2%) than rural primary and middle school children with inadequate access to digital devices.