Impact of COVID-19 on the Learning Processes of Typically Developing and Special Needs Students in Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract: Due to the quick spread of the COVID-19 disease, education institutions across the world had to be closed, and there was an overnight shift to online distance teaching and learning. Majority of the teachers in Pakistan are used to the traditional way of face-to-face teaching and online teaching came as a challenge. Like most of the countries, Pakistan too was not prepared for the sudden shift from face-to-face to online distance learning. Although COVID-19 impacts almost everyone in society, students with disabilities, both physical and mental, are one of the most vulnerable groups due to the restrictions in their activities. Furthermore, studying online devoid of the human touch has induced mental stress among these students. Hence this study focused on the online teaching and learning processes in Pakistan, its challenges and modern pedagogies for emergency situations particularly mental health for students with and without learning disabilities, teachers. The study includes some suggestions for the target group to cope with the sudden catastrophe of COVID-19.   Keywords: COVID-19, Learning Disability, Mental-health, Modern Pedagogies, Online Learning.