The Impact of the Online Education System on Social and Health Issues of School Children in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced schools around the world to close their schools indefinitely and move their instructional activities onto online platforms. The schools were not ready for such a transition and their online teaching-learning method evolved bit by bit. We conducted a survey during which we asked students in the Colombo district regarding their opinion on completely different aspects of online education throughout the continuing pandemic. We received responses from 500 students. The students felt that they learn better in physical school rooms (64.4%) and by accessing free educational material (52.9%) than through online education. The scholars, however, felt that the teachers have improved their online teaching skills since the start of the pandemic (66.7%), and online education is a viable option (72.8%). The students appreciated the computer code and online study materials being employed to support online education. However, the students felt that online education is nerve-wracking and affecting their health and social life. This pandemic is a semiconductor diode to widespread adoption of online education and also the lessons we are learning currently are going to be useful in the future.