The current situations and circumstances brought about by the Covid-19 to the mankind spread over the globe are beyond human comprehension. The lockdown imposed by the helpless Govt. The world over confining millions and billions of the people to their home have crippled the whole society apart from the economies and different sectors. Educational Institutions have been forced to shut themselves and have without choice resorted to technology based on online methods to connect to the students for imparting education. The aim of the current article is to present a quick glance of the challenges confronting legal education during Covid-19.
Education is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution of India to all its citizens 1Article 21A guarantees right to education. The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age 6 to 14 years in as much manner as the state may, be law determined.1
The UNESCO Commission on education (1972) declared that education is a life long process and its purpose is to establish a learning society that is a society that knows ‘how to learn’ to grow and transform to the needs of an ever-changing world.
The goal of teaching the constitution is to mold the law students so as they hold law and justice. The quality of knowledge transfer is directly related to quality of teaching. The million-dollar question is whether law colleges in India transferred physically to virtual.
Hon’ble Justice R.V. Ravindran former Judge of the Supreme Court of India expressed his views in an International Virtual workshop on challenges confronting Legal education during Covid-19. Hon’ble Justice expressed that there are three types of Law colleges across the nation. Viz., Institutions of excellence – already adopted to the systems, Institutions of commitment - not having much adaption’s to systems, Institution which has given up – not adapted to analogy.
Hence the whole burden lies on the shoulders of the Bar Council of India and universities to pull the steps to keep oneself and student should get access to alternative physical classes.
Covid-19 opened up new vistas not only in legal education. The whole methodology has undergone a change. Already platforms there like interactive e-learning world etc., it is the responsibility of NHRD (from now onwards going to be known as education department) and Law colleges to share these platforms. Legal education has to make shoulder enlarge to build new platforms to arrive new solutions - like Cripto currency, Bitcoin. All of us grab it as an opportunity and build a new platform for India.
Legal Education is beyond just knowing something it is required critical thinking ability to look beyond what is written down. All these online classes which includes
1) Videos
2) Pdf
3) PPT
a multi dimensional presentation to what extent student will listen is a million dollar question.
The previous method to online was distant education but many Govt. Institutions deny Distance education is not qualified for Govt. Jobs. A total re-imagination and re-look on whole process by the regulatory authorities is the need of the hour. The pandemic will pass till that point online but not alternative to physical education we need Blended learning “Tell me I may forget, Teach me I will remember”. A country like ours where majority people lives in rural areas. It is the responsibility of the Govt. to provide infrastructure to the rural areas to conduct online classes. Hence it is the time for Blended Learning (Virtual plus physical).
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REFERENCE-
Ins.By constitution (Eigth – Sixth Amendment) Act 2002 dated:12-12-2002 w.e.f 01-04-2010
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