• Kajal Kumar Dutta
• Dr. Vandana Talegaonkar

With the COVID-19 Pandemic resulting in closure of various activity centers across the world, schools / colleges / universities, institutions, NGOs, teachers & students are quickly shifting from traditional face to face education mode to more towards online education mode using technology and less dependence on classroom education. (Rebecca, 2020; Dutta & Talegaonkar, 2021; TOI, 2020). Use of digital technology in education system has removed all the barriers of face to face or classroom education. Government of India’s (GoI) new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 also emphasised on online education through digital literacy, digital pedagogy, online examination, digital repository etc. with special focus towards socio-economically disadvantaged groups (SEDGs). (NEP, 2020; Cook, 2014; Dutta & Talegaonkar, 2021). In rural areas and among urban underprivileged children, e-learning has been a major issue due to non-availability of internet, poor connectivity, computer, smart phones etc. (UNICEF, 1999; Dutta &Talegaonkar, 2021; TOI, 2020). The mainstream students might have reaped the benefits of online education system and digital technology in education, but the underprivileged children are deprived of the benefits of online education. (UNICEF, 1999; Rebecca, 2020). NGOs dealing with educational development of underprivileged children are facing enormous challenges to implement education system beyond face to face mode. A study of four (4) Vadodara based NGOs was undertaken to understand the challenges faced during COVID-19 Pandemic, and how they are coping-up / responding to the challenges of education beyond face to face mode. The NGOs and the participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. The sources of data were the functionaries, teachers & students of the NGO and the documents of the NGOs. The nature of the data is qualitative. The total number of participants were one hundred and seventeen (n=117). The major findings are 1) Online education system is not effective compared to face to face learning, 2) Teachers facing problem in monitoring and assessing the performance and learning of the children, 3) Poor internet access at home, non-availability of smart phones, un-healthy environment at home, cramped houses etc. are the few impediments for online education for the underprivileged children, 4) Availability of skilled online teachers, 5) Lack of funds for developing online education infrastructure.

Face to face education, National Education Policy (NEP), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Underprivileged children, Digital Technology, On-line Education

"Education beyond face to face - A new challenge for The NGOs dealing with the education of underprivileged children - A Case study of Vadodara based NGOs ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 5, page no.k168-k179, May-2022, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2205B20.pdf

"Education beyond face to face - A new challenge for The NGOs dealing with the education of underprivileged children - A Case study of Vadodara based NGOs ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.9, Issue 5, page no. ppk168-k179, May-2022, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2205B20.pdf