Decoding new normal in education for the post-COVID-19 world: Beyond the digital solution

Abstract

The new normal in education has been in the spotlight since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mainstream discourse is in favor of online education as the new normal during the pandemic crisis and even in the post-pandemic world. This reflection first examines education in its broad sense, i.e., in the context of the United Nations’ 2030 agenda through the lens of social justice. It then makes a strong case for a caring, inclusive and equitable approach to education as the new normal for the post-COVID-19 era. The role of technology in the new normal as well as in education in general is discussed with six lessons drawn from the past experience. It is argued that the normal - whether new or old - in education should first and foremost embody care, inclusion and equity and that technology is but a means, not an end, although education would be unimaginable without technology. The reflection concludes by appealing to stakeholders in education to learn from decades of research and practice in the field of open and distance education.