Navigating COVID-19: Experiences of students of color from around the world

Abstract

Human history has been afflicted by pandemics for ages. As part of school curriculums across the world knowledge of the various pandemics and their consequences on the human race are imparted to students. Yet most of us had never imagined that we could also experience a pandemic. By early this year life had started getting disrupted in countries across the world due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. Various sectors have been affected; lockdowns have been imposed across nations. With time though attempts to restart the economies were initiated. Like the other sectors, educational systems across countries also restarted and attempted a near normal scenario by moving to the online mode. Given the technological advancements that we live in moving to the online mode seemed like an easy way out and accessible to students across geographical divides. However, this attempt to continue with life and move on in the academic year has created difficulties and complications for educators and students. Reports show students to not only face issues related to disrupted timelines, access to technology and space but also face physiological and emotional stress. This session brings together students of colour from across the world in an attempt to understand the implications of the pandemic for these students, their struggles and coping strategies in moving to the online mode of education in some instances or the blended mode in others.