Conflict and COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications on Quality Education

Pages:124-128
Mohit Kumar Anand1, Mridula Bali2, and Pallavi Anand3 (Department of Sociology, University of Jammu, J&K1 Department of Psychology, University of Jammu, J&K2,3)

The Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG-4) calls for providing inclusive and quality education to all by 2030. The present research paper is based on the major issues involved in providing and getting quality education in the conflict-torn border areas of Jammu Division in the Union Territory of J&K which have also been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since cross-border armed conflict has already been a huge challenge to the education system in the border areas, COVID-19 has exposed the system to such a level of non-functionality in those areas that the entire education system has come to the standstill. This can be attributed to a number of reasons including lack of digital connectivity, infrastructure, health issues arising due to the ongoing pandemic, lack of awareness among people, and cross-border disturbances. The study is an attempt to cover all these aspects and has also focused on how these issues have created a challenging situation both for the students and the government thereby posing serious negative impacts on the future of the students in particular and the attainment of SDG-4 in general.