December 2019 began a new era in history. A novel strain of corona virus (SARS-Cov-2) which causes the respiratory illness Covid-19 took the world by surprise, Like a bride walking down the aisle or as a frightening thought of an apocalypse. There was a drastic shut down of countries and institutions, increasing unemployment rate and overwhelmed health sector in most countries. There were skyrocketing number of cases and with a beam of light at the end of the tunnel. In an attempt to get back on the treadmill and to adapt, social distancing was put into place and the mundane physical contact became exiled.  Education like every other sector was no exception to this so distant learning became the order of the day.

Anything worth doing is worth doing well. With the new norm the question of the day became how we can adapt and be productive despite the restrictions. With introduction of distant learning, educational institutions have seen the significant role physical contact plays in learning experience of students. The traditional way of education has been kicked out the window. The introduction of online classes is a huge relief and a blessing as it has given students the ability to attend classes amidst Covid-19. The transition from in-person to online has its obstacles that needs to be dealt with in order to ensure teachers and students have a good experience.

Some of the challenges of distant learning are, first of being confined to a restricted environment with little to no human contact. This has a debilitating effect on the mental, physical, emotional and social wellbeing of both the teachers and students. There is anxiety due to the constant struggle to work and the fear of getting infected. The monotony of learning has added to the reduction in productivity and enthusiasm to learn.

With this in mind, the need for constant mental health checks can never be over emphasized. This can be done simply by passing out questionnaires, creating sessions with a psychologist in order to understand the students concerns and to find a way to better meet their needs. The school environment for some students serves as a safe haven and any attempt from the school administration to listen to their needs, and come up with policies that benefit them will go a long way to help improve their mental health.

Technology is no stranger to the modern-day man, but when it comes to learning the drums beat differently. With the ever-evolving nature of technology, it is important that the administration of educational institutions plough enough funds into the upgrade of devices to more suitable gadgets. This can improve learning, integrity of education can be better managed, improve productivity and engaging educational sessions can be enjoyed. Universities could also assist teachers to incorporate technology effectively into their teaching practices through special training programs.

Monetary challenges are inevitable with the failing economy, parents losing their jobs and the plummeting standard of life. Tuition fees should be slashed since students cannot maximize their money’s worth as benefits that could be enjoyed with in-person education cannot be attained with distant learning due to Covid-19.

In conclusion, it feels as though the world is facing a loop of problems as Covid-19 continues. With regards to education, teachers play a pivotal role in making learning easy. They should be warm, accessible, enthusiastic, and caring. Teachers are the first line of contact between the student and the school. Compassion towards students should be taken into consideration, as every student can be faced with a variety of problems.

About the Author
Atela msendoo is a Nigerian, a second year medical student from Sumy State University. She loves reading ,travelling and spending time with friends and family.