COVID-19 pandemic: A new way to look at our education

Fr Stephen Touthang
Introduction: Coronavirus disease also known as Covid-19 virus is one of the deadliest diseases of the century.  It has taken the world by surprise and even the first world countries with all their preparedness found themselves utterly helpless. It has completely paralysed the world’s economy  and has seized all business’ undertakings. Many have been thrown out of jobs and it has brought untold miseries and sufferings to hundreds and thousands of people across the world. Some of the lessons we can learn from the effect of Covid-19 pandemic are:
1. Misplaced Priority: So, far the priority of all the countries have been to become a super power and control the others. This resulted in spending humongous amount of money on building nuclear power and improving the defence system. But Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that having nuclear power, well-trained army and the latest military equipment cannot make the country safe and secured from the attack of such an invisible and tiny virus. There is a need to redefine our priorities.
2. True Patriots: The world so far thought that the best trained army who are killed fighting the battle in the frontline are true patriots of the country but Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the real heroes and protectors of human lives are doctors, nurses, paramedics, and health workers.  These are the true patriots who are fighting risking their lives and many have in fact already died in the process.
3. A New Understanding of Celebrities: So far the world was adoring celebrities - film actors, singers, musicians, sport stars, models,  etc. In fact, a huge number of the world’s population is suffering from celebrity worship syndrome (CWS). Covid-19 pandemic has informed us that true celebrities are not the above mentioned stars but the frontline fighters of this pandemic - doctors, nurses, paramedics and health workers. The world so far was never grateful to the medical personnel  but Covid-19 pandemic has taught us to respect them and be grateful to them.
4. A New Understanding of High Offices: So far, the world has been  vying for highest positions in the society like the offices of Presidents and Prime Ministers, and so on. Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that these are not positions of power, authority, status and comfort but it is a place where one is able to understand the most important needs of the people, make them available and then serving them. Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that these positions are not enviable but they are positions of highest responsibility and accountability which requires competent leadership yet the present leaders have found themselves helpless. Added to their helplessness, they are being criticized for not doing enough in battling this pandemic. As all the multinational companies too, witness its closure, even CEOs are reduced to the level of an ordinary men - the  curve is flattened.
5. Cooperation: So far, the world has been witnessing the exponential growth of individualistic living - a callous and cavalier attitude towards the existence of other human beings.  The individual  does not like to be dictated. Asserting of one’s individual rights and freedom has come to hold the stage. If I am individually alright, what is the need for cooperation? Each individual has a ‘trouble-me-not’ attitude. But covid-19 pandemic has taught us that we can’t stand alone, in order to overcome this heinous disease and all need to cooperate. Every individual doing things their own way without cooperating with the others will lead us to destruction. We all need to cooperate with the safety  instructions given by the Government, elders or village authorities etc.  Cooperation is no longer a need but a necessity.
6. Family Values: Covid-19 pandemic has taught us that what we have considered  so far as the most important is not the most important. We have been leaving our families hundreds and thousands of miles away - our parents, brothers and sisters, and relatives in search of money, wealth etc., for better life. Some of our closest ones have passed away while we are far away from them and we could not even come home to have the last glance of their face. Covid-19 pandemic is in fact telling us that family values - love, joy, sharing, forgiveness, understanding and unity are more important than money, wealth and comfortable life.
B. A New Way Forward in Our Education
After having analysed the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, there is a need to look at our education in a new way. Covid-19 pandemic has taken hostage of our educational institutions. Amidst such pandemic, when social or physical distancing is the only way to overcome this heinous disease, it is impossible to open up our educational institutions. But once we are set free from being held hostage, we need to look at our education in a new way.  The following are some of the ways, I would like all of you to  look  at:
i) The misplaced priority must be corrected. So far most of the countries’ wealth is spent on building up military and defence. We need to change our priority from investing in defence to healthcare and education.  If we could invest the amount of money we have spent on building up our defence on healthcare and education, we could do much more on medical research, build more hospitals and medical colleges which will definitely improve the health of the people. This will help us to enjoy healthier and longer lives.
ii) For a person who gets cured at the last stage of incurable disease, certainly, doctor is a god for him. People need to be educated to respect doctors, nurses and other health workers. The best students in our institutions can be motivated to take up medical profession (of course depending on their interest) instead of becoming a scientist who is involved in building nuclear bombs and lethal war equipment.
iii) Our institutions should teach us newly the meaning of who a celebrity is? Children should be taught that a celebrity is one who is ready to serve humankind to the point of sacrificing his or her own life in order to safe other human beings. Celebrity status should not be accorded only to some exceptional film actors,  sportstars, singers,  musicians, models  and so on.
iv) Covid-19 pandemic has taught  us that the highest positions in our society is not a place of power, authority, status and comfort but it is a place where you are able to understand the most important needs of the people, delivering them and serving them. Therefore, our institutions should teach our children that those who want to occupy the highest offices in our society must be ready to serve and sacrifice for the people instead of putting their own needs first.
                                      To be continued