Transformation of teacher education programmes into on-line mode during covid-19 lockdown in India: Exploring challenges and opportunities

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the challenges faced, opportunities generated and the digital divide experienced by the teacher trainees in India during COVID-19 lockdown in their suddenly encountered on-line mode of teacher education from the traditional face to face mode. The present study is based on engagement with 206 teacher trainees from 20 universities spread across 13 provinces in India. Both closed and open ended responses from an extensive self-repertoire questionnaire was collected from teacher trainees and analyzed both quantitatively and quantitatively. The responses revealed extreme inequalities in access and opportunities towards availability of ICT infrastructure necessary for smooth on-line training. Few trainees lacked proper mobile which was necessary for on-line classes during COVID lockdown. Problems such as network and connectivity, costly data packs, head ache and stress etc. were also responded by significant number of trainees. Majority of trainees reported tremendous increase in their awareness and knowledge related to ICT and on-line learning techniques. A true blend of offline and online mode of teaching learning and examinations was desired by a significant number of trainees. The paper highlights the inequalities in the Indian Society in general and education system in particular. It also draws attention towards the opportunities and potentialities of ICT that was realized by the trainees for the first time on a large scale. The study also throws light on the deficiencies and challenges related to ICT and on-line mode of education in India.