Online education has widely been recognized as the thing of the future. Yet, numerous criticisms and flaws are emerging as the concept moves from theory to practice. The internet was supposed to free the student from the physical limitations. Theoretically, it is now possible for a student in a 3rd world country to access quality education without traveling to a foreign country.
However, the globalization of education and involvement of internet have created practical and moral problems. Today, education and degrees are for sale on the internet, literally. Frequency of instances of students submitting dissertations, reports and thesis purchased from the internet is on the rise.
There are numerous options available for a student who has lots of money and who does not want to work on the home study projects. The web helps such students connect with those who are ready to sell ‘academic support’. Getting assistance and guidance from experts online is not wrong. However, outsourcing homework and self study exercises for a price is certainly wrong. Homework is outsourced and essay papers and other materials are simply purchased from the internet. The end result is that the student who gains the degree does not possess the necessary knowledge that he or she is expected to possess.
Education has become a commodity Cynics suggest that traditional education system too facilitated such transactions. Yet, online education enables students to buy and sell home work on a large scale. This will obviously have a significant impact on the sanctity of education degrees. Online courses reduce chances of personal intervention of the teacher. This oversight is absent in case of internet education. There may come a time when this problem may assume gigantic proportions and internet education may lose the respect and reputation it enjoys
It is important for a via media to be discovered so that sanctity of education is maintained. The right balance between enjoying the benefits of the web and avoiding malpractices must be struck as early as possible.
