The LDA CSS youth podcast “In Ether” has officially been launched. The objective of a project is to strengthen the cooperation between the local media and NGOs in Knjaževac, as well as to address topics related to the youth in a way that is both interesting and engaging. Having that idea in mind, with the support of the Media Diversity Institute and EU, within the program "YOUTH", we have gathered together a team of eight young reporters, who completed a series of training and workshops learning about journalism, digital marketing, and communication skills. These skills were crucial in creating the podcast episodes in a way that is likable to the audience.
The first episode of the podcast is named "The Pandemic and Education", authored by Tamara Milenković and Goran Miletić. It discusses the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on the Serbian education system, the recent State Matura project of the Serbian Education Ministry and the European Union, the mental problems faced by the students, and the predicaments of successfully integrating into the online curriculum model. To achieve this, they have interviewed several people, including a teacher and psychologist from the local Gymnasium and an economics and business teacher from the Technical School. Several high school students have also been interviewed to inquire about their general feelings about the topic.
The psychologist and teacher at a local Gymnasium Mirjana Pejčić-Zbiljić has stated that students have faced a change in the education model.
"We've decided for the combinatory system of going to school, which meant to go in-person for one week, and then taking online classes the next, or they could take all the classes online-only," she said, emphasizing that this change alone has already influenced the students' mental health.
The students needed to quickly adapt to the new reality of going to school: indoor mask requirements, social distancing, temperature checks when entering the school, as well as taking classes for the first time in their lives on their smart devices (online schooling was introduced for the time during the pandemic). She said that some students consulted her for psychological assistance, pointing out that "there were several problems, new topics to talk about, but also mostly problems that were present before: problems regarding concentrating efficiently, studying, socio-emotional issues, as well as new problems regarding living in these circumstances. They have fears, [they] are afraid of the epidemic and the disease, the consequences of catching the virus, feeling worried about their family members, uncertainty about the length of the epidemic. Can they pull through all of it? Some of them feel angry, nervous, lacking concentration and etcetera."
She has noticed both students who managed to integrate well into the new system and those who struggled significantly to adjust their time schedules, work ethics regarding online tasks and homework. All of the school's departments and activities were shortened or halted, as the schools were instructed to have a few students as possible physically present. The school has provided students who didn't have the technical means of attending online classes by giving them school laptops to use while being home.
The economics and business teacher Sanja Markulin from the Technical School has spoken about her views and opinions regarding the matter. To her, online schooling a few years ago was unthinkable. The Technical School enjoyed the help of software engineers and programmers who helped develop the software necessary to help students follow the classes easily on their devices. The main issue to Sanja was implementing an effective method of testing the students' knowledge, making tests and quizzes they can take online, and helping the students adjust to the new reality. The school provided necessary equipment to all students who needed it, and printing out the materials and handing them out to those who couldn't access them online. The deadlines were extended, and teachers accepted late homework. To complement her class, she used YouTube videos, shared Google Documents, interactive PowerPoint presentations, online quizzes, and group discussions. In the end, she emphasizes that "the coronavirus epidemic has reminded us that we live in the world that constantly changes and develops, and that we must always learn [new things], make decisions and quickly adapt to new changes. To live in a changing world, we must change." She points out that the newly made skills during the pandemic, quickly adapting to new challenges and environment, will help the students be more successful in the future when learning new skills and adapting to the needs of the market when doing business.
Moreover, three high school students were interviewed and asked to provide their opinions on the online schooling system. They have pointed out that they had enjoyed the longer sleep times that helped them with studying. The students also cited the flaws of online schooling when it comes to one-on-one tutoring and asking questions. They have experienced a boost in their social lives, while all of them agreed their academic lives have suffered, citing a lack of motivation for studying at home.
To complement the podcast, the authors have referenced several official reports and documents from various institutions and organizations, such as the Serbian Government, National Youth Council of Serbia, and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to provide related statistics, findings, and facts about the topic.
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious influence on education systems worldwide. The main issue is the increasing number of mental-related problems the students face, as the epidemic and new school system put increasing pressure on them. On the other hand, the students noted they felt better and healthier because of the ability to sleep for longer times during the day, as well as being able to spend more time with their friends out of school.
You can watch the entire episode on the following LINK.