World of virtual education for emigrants’ children

As the emigration rate grows, more and more children attend the opening of new school year only “virtually”. The distance learning system makes life easier for those emigrants who take their children with them, but still want them to study in their mother tongue.

The system itself receives mixed reviews, though. By contacting their teachers via Skype, pupils study in their mother tongue and do not lose the connection with their country. But many specialists ask what the results of such learning are? Additionally, “virtual” learning is pricey- the state pays some amount of money for each pupil (so called “pupils’ baskets”) and the emigrant parents pay taxes in countries where they work. Some time ago two headmasters of capital’s schools were discussing the virtual schooling system. One of the given examples was that of a Lithuanian school in which some of the classes are half empty.

“There are thirty pupils on the list, but only fifteen attend the classes, because the children live with their parents in different countries. Introducing an Internet education system could be a great way to get additional pupils’ baskets.”- they said.

In the Vilnius local government, “Kurier” was informed that the only place in the capital that uses mostly Internet schooling system is the Ozo Junior High School. From 1000 of students, more than a half (570) studies using the electronic system. There are more institutions in Vilnius that use the system, but so far none has been using it on such a broad scale as the aforementioned Junior High School. But with the growth of emigration rate, the demand for virtual schooling also rises.

At present, only students of Lithuanian schools can use the system, because officially the curricula of virtual schooling are prepared in the mother tongue only. Is such a system needed in Polish schools in Lithuania too?

“My opinion on this matter is ambivalent”- said Czesław Dawidowicz, the headmaster of Adam Mickiewicz Junior High School in Vilnius in his conversation with “Kurier”.

Mr Dawidowicz said it would be good if such an option was available, because children could study in their mother tongue then. However, he emphasized that the system has some serious drawbacks.

“I am concerned with the quality of learning, when a young person spends time in front of a computer instead of having real contact with teachers and friends. A few years ago most of those who used distance learning systems had poor results of their final high school exams (matura exams). I don’t know, maybe the results are better these days, but I’m afraid…”

In the headmaster’s opinion, Internet education would be suitable for the upper grades students. For younger pupils it would be better if they studied in the countries in which they live with their parents.

“Younger students find it easier to get used to a new school. The older ones, on the other hand, especially those in final grade, who are about to take their finals, find it way more difficult. For them, then, it would be better to choose Internet schooling system. The option is also suitable for those who already have a job and they are not interested in particularly good grades and in going to a university after finishing high school.”-added the headmaster.

Aušra Bukauskienė, a resident of Kaunas and a mother of 14-year-old Nojus, is glad that her son has a chance to study, even if not in a traditional way, in his mother tongue.

“My husband and I have been working in Norway since June. We plan to stay there for a year, but we do not want to leave our son for so long. Additionally, we have no relatives who could take care of him. So we’ve decided that he will attend virtual 9^th grade”, she explains the family’s decision. “Nojus promised he will be responsible and he won’t play computer games instead of studying. I will make sure that he does all the tasks given by the teachers. I do understand that it’s harder to keep good results this way. But we had no other choice…”

Source:   http://kurierwilenski.lt/2012/09/07/wirtualny-swiat-edukacji-dla-dzieci-emigrantow/

Tłumaczenie Emilia Zawieracz w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Emilia Zawieracz within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.