Ever since concepts like “unprecedented times” and “the new normal” became parts of our lives earlier this year, we’ve also had to adapt to living our lives in “unprecedented” ways and adjust to this “new normal”. One part of this adjustment has been to distance ourselves physically from each other and seeing work and education go online.
Sadly, online classes have been a rather hard adjustment for many
Pakistani students, in particular, have been protesting against these classes for the haphazard, mismanaged, and, frankly, the boring way these classes are being conducted by teachers who barely understand technology, let alone making online classes engaging and fun.
On top of that, internet connectivity in Pakistan is extremely shitty and so many students come from remote areas and underprivileged families where internet aside, even having a computer or a smartphone is a luxury that’s unheard of.
While the boomers in authority grapple with learning how to adapt to the new world, here are how students are coping with the frustration that are online classes
Jokes and memes are the one way young people have learned to express themselves rather creatively. So let’s get on with these hilarious jokes, shall we?
https://twitter.com/Im_psy_cho/status/1280438546034286592
Everything I learned in online classes is in this bag👜😒#onlineclasses pic.twitter.com/nDdU5Y0SiI
— Patangeer🕊️ (@patangeer) July 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/Komalkh61812707/status/1280410677186789378
When my teacher asked about my assignment #OnlineClasses
Me: pic.twitter.com/erURBqeQw3— Ateeka H. Sheikh (@AteekaShaykh) July 7, 2020
#OnlineClasses when a backbencher join online class.
Retweeted. pic.twitter.com/5WDpSAwD4e
— AfterMath ✍️ (@Shariju28947423) July 7, 2020
Me who get my degree from online classes e like that#OnlineClasses pic.twitter.com/IVjpeE1cFj
— Talhamuhammad (@talhamuhamad01) July 7, 2020
Students also commented on how this new version of school has given them more opportunities to be even more “casual”
#onlineclasses
Which One is You? 🤪 pic.twitter.com/yfjBWDHbNH— The Spiritual Quest ✨ (@DSpiritualQuest) July 3, 2020
#OnlineClasses
Teacher: please don't eat during the class pic.twitter.com/VxnWBcwB8P— Moosa Baloch (@Moosamatrooshi) July 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/Faisalsaleem571/status/1279777036144267264
Me after attending 1 or 2 online classes.#OnlineClasses#University pic.twitter.com/UPbmaOScmo
— daniyal❄️ (@daniyalak_khi) July 4, 2020
Others shared their struggles with these online classes
https://twitter.com/EshaIjaz3/status/1280211574960132096
https://twitter.com/hamzabutt61/status/1280405321131982848
Of course, the money making private schools that are more business than “educational institutions” were rightfully dragged too
#OnlineClasses
Private education institutes in days of lock down: pic.twitter.com/j8mnkeLA4F— Hamid Faraz 🎉🤑 (@HamidMadBoi) July 7, 2020
Some people actually have creative ideas, like this father showing off how his daughter has tried to make digital learning work for her
If you are really looking for ideas to decorate your online classes and meetings, here is how our daughter is doing it.#OnlineClasses pic.twitter.com/1h5IXl1RFb
— Naveed Iftikhar (@navift) July 7, 2020
Many students have been sharing how WhatsApp and texting have helped them hack the new system and keep sane during these classes
That's how i attend #OnlineClasses 😂✌ pic.twitter.com/T8iVfAVG6k
— Saad Rafiq🇵🇰 (@i_vegita) July 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/basskyabro/status/1277841340143788032
#onlineclasses
Me to my friend during online class😂 pic.twitter.com/NPLhWnsgaR— S A M R E E N. (@Samreen_hun_Yar) July 3, 2020
Online classes ke fundey…😂😜#OnlineClasses #lockdown pic.twitter.com/EbEIoQIzIT
— Bhens ki dum…👈 (@zaidukhn) July 6, 2020
Of course, someone had to take a crack at the terrible state of internet in Pakistan
That moment when you have bad Internet connection during online classes #OnlineClasses pic.twitter.com/LSFQGrcI9O
— Ahsan Ijaz (@Ahsanijazth) July 7, 2020
About Online Classes #OnlineClasses pic.twitter.com/6iBn4sqCl7
— Ahsan Ijaz (@Ahsanijazth) July 7, 2020
Some students also shared how these online classes have led to increased work load from lazy teachers who find it easy to just throw a bunch of assignments at students without really making them worth much learning
Isn't So ??#coronavirus #assignment #OnlineClasses pic.twitter.com/QEtQzVq9O9
— Faisii_Tweets (@FaisiiT) July 6, 2020
Jokes aside, the state of digital learning has been terrible. It has exposed the older people aka boomers in power for not really wanting to adapt to new technologies that the world has rapidly given us. It is common sense that online learning is the way forward and this is high time that instead of asking to reopen schools, colleges and universities and putting millions of students at risk, authorities realize they need to adapt or the entire education industry of Pakistan will need to be dismantled, completely.