LEARNING TO LIVE IN NEW NORMAL/ IMPACTS OF COVID19

ESSAY OUTLINE;

1. Introduction
2. Allowing to Grieve The “Old” Normal to Embrace the New Normal
3. New Normal: The Way We Live Is Different Now
3.1. Some Essentials While to Leave Out: Masks and Gloves
3.2. Queuing Is Now the Norm
3.3. Public Transport Looks Very Different
3.4. We Do A Double-Take When We Hear Someone Cough, Sneeze, Or Sniffle
3.5. We’ll start to holiday more in our own backyards
3.6. The small things that make up our community have changed
3.7. The small things that make up our community have changed
4. The way we work has changed
4.1. Remote ways/Digitally
4.2. Reduction in operating expenses
4.3. Less physical existence
5. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever

5.1. 1.2 billion children in 186 countries are out of the classroom
5.2. Distinctive rise of E-learning
5.3. Teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms
5.4. Increased retention of information, and take less time
5.5. Global EdTech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019 and the overall market for
online education projected to reach $350 Billion by 2025
6. The challenges of online learning
6.1. Internet access and/or technology struggle
6.2. Significant gap between those from privileged and disadvantaged backgrounds
6.3. Effectiveness of online learning varies amongst age groups

7. THE WAY WE SOCIALISE AND CONNECT LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT

7.1. Social distancing
7.2. Not seeing loved ones…for their benefit
7.3. No visits from loved ones from interstate or overseas
7.4. Social greetings have morphed
7.5. The way we ‘dine out’ has changed
7.6. More connected via digital mediums

8. No or Less International Travel/ Tourism

9. COVID-19 – Pakistan Socio-economic Impact Assessment
9.1. Increased Savings to individual levels
9.2. Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world, with dense cities where
contagion spreads far and fast
9.3. In Pakistan, pandemic could push millions more into poverty
9.4. Fiscal, social, and economic measures needed to mitigate impact
9.5. Stretched Public health systems – Long ago pandemic
9.6. 40% of Pakistanis living below the poverty line in COVID-19’s viral wake
9.7. Real GDP growth is expected to slow by 3 percent
9.8. Nearly 42 million children are now out of school, while 17 million children under five are
missing routine vaccinations

10. COVID-19 – Pakistan Socio-economic Impact & Response Plan

10.1. Making essential health services available and protecting health systems
10.2. Helping people cope through social protections and ensuring basic services and food
security
10.3. Protecting jobs, supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises, and shoring up the
most vulnerable workers through economic recovery programs
10.4. Guiding a badly needed surge in fiscal and financial stimuli and strengthening
multilateral and regional responses
10.5. Promoting social cohesion and investing in community-led resilience and response
systems.

1. INTRODUCTION:

One thing that is certain, we know that adjusting to change can be challenging. Be it planned or unplanned,
gradual or sudden, change is inevitable and very much part of being human. Over the past few months,
we’ve experienced an unprecedented shift in our way of life due to COVID-19. Pre-pandemic, who
would’ve thought that toilet paper could become as precious as gold! And now, a trip to do a weekly
grocery shop seems like an adventure of its own! Before we know it, we’ve (reluctantly) let go of our old
normal and now settling into what seems to be our new normal.

Even when society starts up again, there will still be restrictions and we are facing fundamental shifts to our
way of life. So, what does a New Normal look like? Here are some thoughts (and realities) below; with tips
on how to adjust to the New Normal to follow.

2. ALLOWING TO GRIEVE THE “OLD” NORMAL TO ACCEPT

THE NEW NORMAL
 It is very human to miss the old ways, and as with any change (at the best of times!) it’s easy to feel a sense
of loss.

Throw in a pandemic, along with changes to routines and plans for the weeks and months ahead in 2020,
and it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the challenges and difficulties that we face in light of
COVID-19.

Yes, there will be denial, anger, maybe even depression and acceptance, as we pivot and adjust to our
new normal (whatever form it may take). But it’s important to give yourself time to grieve what you have
lost.

Once you’ve allowed yourself to grieve, there will be more space to start embracing your New Normal.

3. THE WAY WE LIVE IS DIFFERENT

 Masks and gloves may be commonplace, depending on where in the world you live.
 Queuing is now the norm, be it when visiting health professionals, going to the shops, or even getting in
a lift.
 Public transport looks very different, with social distancing in place and commuters wearing masks and
gloves.
 We do a double-take when we hear someone cough, sneeze, or sniffle. We’ve been conditioned these
past few months to be hypervigilant for these symptoms, but hopefully this might also mean that higher
standards of hand and personal hygiene will continue.
 We’ll start to holiday more in our own backyards due to travel restrictions, which can only be a good
thing for local economies as they cope with the decline in overseas and interstate tourist numbers.
Wanderlust for overseas exotic locations will also be on the rise, and Instagram will no doubt fuel those
desires.
 The small things that make up our community have changed. No more sausage sizzles at Bunnings, no
community sports, no lingering over brunch with friends at the local cafe, and salons have closed due to
the pandemic. We’re hoping our local small businesses - our hairdressers, barbers, cafes, restaurants,
health professionals, newsagents, boutiques - make it through the other end (so be sure to support your
local small business!)
 The larger sporting landscape has also changed. Sporting leagues have paused but are cautiously
eyeing a return, and national and international meets are near impossible given travel restrictions. Sport
has also been hit particularly hard by coronavirus in the year of the Summer Olympic Games, which have
now been postponed to 2021.
 THE WAY WE WORK OR STUDY HAS CHANGED
 Education as we know it has change. Schools and universities have moved online, some blending face-to-face
with online lectures. Universities around the world are feeling the impact from the absence of International
Students. Conferences will be paused, and international collaborations and sabbaticals now look very different to
previous years.

 Work has also change due to social distancing. So many of us shifted to working from home to minimize
travelling on public transport and gathering in groups at the office. Zoom meetings even became our New Normal.
With restrictions easing, we may cautiously rotate back into working at the office in shifts, or embrace working
from home on a more regular basis.

THE WAY WE SOCIALISE AND CONNECT LOOKS VERY

DIFFERENT
 Social distancing, social distancing, social distancing. No more packing in large crowds when we all have to have
a personal bubble of over a meter. We have said goodbye (for now) to attending concerts, plays, movies, festivals,
museums, etc., but hopefully they are able to return soon.

 Not seeing loved ones…for their benefit. Elderly parents and grandparents, pregnant friends or new parents, or
those with health conditions that render them more vulnerable to coronavirus - we’re staying away to keep them
safe. In a time when it’s more important than ever to stay connected, this can be particularly challenging for all.

 No visits from loved ones from interstate or overseas. With travel restrictions in place and unlikely to lift for the
foreseeable future (particularly international travel), families and loved ones are being kept apart and having to
make do with online catch ups.

 Social greetings have morphed. Gone are the days of greeting friends and extended relatives with handshakes,
hugs, and cheek-kisses. Friendly gestures like these are now being curbed, to be replaced by elbow bumps and
foot-shakes, or waves from a (social) distance.

 The way we ‘dine out’ has changed. Many restaurants and cafes may only be serving takeaways at the moment,
but even when they reopen for us to dine-in there will likely be restrictions around how many are able to dine-in,
social distancing will be in place, and shared plates may disappear for quite some time.

 More connected via digital mediums

- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever

The COVID-19 has resulted in schools shut all across the world. Globally, over 1.2 billion children are out of the
classroom.
As a result, education has changed dramatically, with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is
undertaken remotely and on digital platforms.

Research suggests that online learning has been shown to increase retention of information, and take less time,
meaning the changes coronavirus have caused might be here to stay.

While countries are at different points in their COVID-19 infection rates, worldwide there are currently more than  1.2
billion children in 186 countries affected by school closures due to the pandemic.
With this sudden shift away from the classroom in many parts of the globe, some are wondering whether the adoption
of online learning will continue to persist post-pandemic, and how such a shift would impact the worldwide education
market.

Even before COVID-19, there was already high growth and adoption in education technology, with global edtech
investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019 and the overall market for online education projected to reach $350
Billion by 2025. Whether it is language apps, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software,
there has been a significant surge in usage since COVID-19.

- How is the education sector responding to COVID-19?

- What does this mean for the future of learning?

While some believe that the unplanned and rapid move to online learning – with no
training, insufficient bandwidth, and little preparation – will result in a poor user
experience that is unconducive to sustained growth, others believe that a new hybrid
model of education will emerge, with significant benefits. “I believe that the integration
of information technology in education will be further accelerated and that online
education will eventually become an integral component of school education, “ says
Wang Tao, Vice President of Tencent Cloud and Vice President of Tencent Education.

-The challenges of online learning

There are, however, challenges to overcome. Some students without reliable internet
access and/or technology struggle to participate in digital learning; this gap is seen
across countries and between income brackets within countries. For example, whilst
95% of students in Switzerland, Norway, and Austria have a computer to use for their
schoolwork, only 34% in Indonesia do, according to OECD data.

In the US, there is a significant gap between those from privileged and disadvantaged
backgrounds: whilst virtually all 15-year-olds from a privileged background said they
had a computer to work on, nearly 25% of those from disadvantaged backgrounds did
not. While some schools and governments have been providing digital equipment to
students in need, such as in New South Wales, Australia, many are still concerned
that the pandemic will widenthe digital divide.

- Is learning online as effective?

For those who do have access to the right technology, there is evidence that learning
online can be more effective in a number of ways. Some research shows that on
average, students retain 25-60% more material when learning online compared to only
8-10% in a classroom. This is mostly due to the students being able to learn faster
online; e-learning requires 40-60% less time to learn than in a traditional classroom
setting because students can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading,
skipping, or accelerating through concepts as they choose.

Nevertheless, the effectiveness of online learning varies amongst age groups. The
general consensus on children, especially younger ones, is that a structured
environment is required, because kids are more easily distracted.

- A changing education imperative

It is clear that this pandemic has utterly disrupted an education system that
many assert was already losing its relevance. In his book, 21 Lessons for the 21st
Century, scholar Yuval Noah Harari outlines how schools continue to focus on
traditional academic skills and rote learning, rather than on skills such as critical
thinking and adaptability, which will be more important for success in the future. Could
the move to online learning be the catalyst to create a new, more effective method of
educating students? While some worry that the hasty nature of the transition
online may have hindered this goal, others plan to make e-learning part of their ‘new
normal’ after experiencing the benefits first-hand.
 - The importance of disseminating knowledge is highlighted through COVID-
19

Major world events are often an inflection point for rapid innovation – a clear example is
the rise of e-commerce post-SARS. While we have yet to see whether this will apply to
e-learning post-COVID-19, it is one of the few sectors where investment has not dried
up. What has been made clear through this pandemic is the importance of
disseminating knowledge across borders, companies, and all parts of society. If online
learning technology can play a role here, it is incumbent upon all of us to explore its full
potential.

- COVID-19 – Pakistan Socio-economic Impact Assessment

In Pakistan, pandemic could push millions more into poverty
Fiscal, social, and economic measures needed to mitigate impact

Pakistan’s confirmed and reported COVID-19 cases, as of 10 June, topped 113,000. More than
2,200 people have died, including at least four provincial legislators. Pakistan is the fifth most
populous country in the world, with dense cities where contagion spreads far and fast. This
virus, alongside measures to mitigate it, poses major risks to lives and livelihoods with impacts
that could last for decades, the study says.

Public health systems were stretched long before the pandemic, with a ratio of one doctor to
963 people and one hospital bed to 1,608 people. Its shortage of trained medical staff is
estimated at 200,000 doctors and 1.4 million nurses, and universal health coverage is
nonexistent.

While the poverty rate declined by 40 percent over the last two decades to 24.3 percent in
2015, the IMF projects a sharp reversal, with up to 40 percent of Pakistanis living below the
poverty line in COVID-19’s viral wake.

Real GDP growth is expected to slow by 3 percent, with downturns in services and
manufacturing. Agriculture will also lag if lockdowns continue and disrupt needed
transportation, logistical support, labor, and access to inputs for the next planting season.

Those most at-risk include people already living below poverty line, women, children, people
with disabilities, the elderly, and other marginalized groups whose lives, livelihoods, nutrition,
and access to basic services are least secure.

Nearly 42 million children are now out of school, while 17 million children under five are missing
routine vaccinations. An additional 2.45 million people—beyond an existing 40 million—now
suffer food insecurity, the study finds.

This assessment, which will inform policies and programs to help the country recover, argues for
a “deliberate effort to reach out to the furthest and most vulnerable through economic relief
packages and social sector services.” But implementers and planners will face challenges in
finding innovative technologies and credible partners to provide support efficiently and
transparently, it says.

- COVID-19 – Pakistan Socio-economic Impact & Response Plan

The UN study recommends a response comprising five workstreams:
· Making essential health services available to those in need and protecting health systems.
· Helping people cope through social protections and ensuring basic services and food security.
· Protecting jobs, supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises, and shoring up the most vulnerable
workers through economic recovery programs.
· Guiding a badly needed surge in fiscal and financial stimuli and strengthening multilateral and regional
responses.
· Promoting social cohesion and investing in community-led resilience and response systems.

- On the ground
At the Government’s request, UNDP established a COVID-19 Secretariat at Pakistan’s Planning Commission
to support the country’s economic and social response to the pandemic. It also facilitated preparation of a
socio-economic framework in collaboration with other UN agencies. This framework will inform the
Government’s 2020-2021 budget and National Action Plan for COVID-19.
UNDP is also providing technical expertise to the Federal Ministry of Health to enhance communications,
coordination, and data analysis and to the National Disaster Management Authority as it implements its
Pakistan Preparedness and Response Plan COVID-19.
UNDP is meanwhile working closely with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Provincial Command and Control Center
to strengthen its crisis management capacity. This support includes the design of a data collection system
from districts, analysis and reporting to inform decision-making by the Health Department, and provision
of strategic communications to the provincial authorities.
UNDP is, further, supporting a nationwide youth perception survey, Youth Innovation Challenges, and
online hackathons to understand the views of young people and include their voices in developing COVID
related interventions.
UNDP’s Innovation AccLab supported the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation in launching a
National Health Hackathon, focused on COVID-19 prevention and treatment.