Covid 19 brings space dream of students to a halt
File pic of a US tourAMRITSAR: The coronavirus pandemic has not only upended a student's life but has also taken the toll of the student’s dream to visit international space centres, interact with the astronauts and also plan to pursue their career in space sciences.
Since last year no educational tour had gone to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),US, and Euro Space Agency (ESA), Belgium , which had not only rendered the tour operators jobless but also deprived the students of visiting the international space centres, said Rajinder Singh Rikhi of Inspiring Journey’s while talking to TOI on Friday.
Rikhi claimed that before the pandemic they would take at least twenty tours to NASA and ESA in a year of as many as over two dozen schools of Punjab but since last year all the tours had been cancelled.
“The process used to begin in the month of May and the first tour will be off the ground by July but now parents are skeptical of sending their children abroad besides there were numerous restrictions on traveling abroad due to Covid 19” he said.
Explaining the significance of educational tours in the life of a student, he said that educational tours overall groom a student and not only bring self confidence among them but also a positive approach towards life.
He said for the past four to five years, the US Embassy had begun issuing ten year visas to students going to NASA for a ten days educational tour which was also a major attraction for many students.
Stating that ‘lunch and interaction with astronauts’ used to be the most exciting component of their educational tour , Rajnish Sharma of Travel Today said a few students had independently approached them for a tour to NASA or ESA .”But we are helpless in absence of a group of students “ he said adding that Covid 19 had brought a squeezing halt to students NASA and ESA dreams.
“And no one can predict when the situation will improve and confidence of both the parents and students to travel abroad in group will be restored” he said.
Besides international educational tours, he said , there was no local educational tour either since schools had switched to online mode of education.
Since last year no educational tour had gone to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),US, and Euro Space Agency (ESA), Belgium , which had not only rendered the tour operators jobless but also deprived the students of visiting the international space centres, said Rajinder Singh Rikhi of Inspiring Journey’s while talking to TOI on Friday.
Rikhi claimed that before the pandemic they would take at least twenty tours to NASA and ESA in a year of as many as over two dozen schools of Punjab but since last year all the tours had been cancelled.
“The process used to begin in the month of May and the first tour will be off the ground by July but now parents are skeptical of sending their children abroad besides there were numerous restrictions on traveling abroad due to Covid 19” he said.
Explaining the significance of educational tours in the life of a student, he said that educational tours overall groom a student and not only bring self confidence among them but also a positive approach towards life.
He said for the past four to five years, the US Embassy had begun issuing ten year visas to students going to NASA for a ten days educational tour which was also a major attraction for many students.
Stating that ‘lunch and interaction with astronauts’ used to be the most exciting component of their educational tour , Rajnish Sharma of Travel Today said a few students had independently approached them for a tour to NASA or ESA .”But we are helpless in absence of a group of students “ he said adding that Covid 19 had brought a squeezing halt to students NASA and ESA dreams.
“And no one can predict when the situation will improve and confidence of both the parents and students to travel abroad in group will be restored” he said.
Besides international educational tours, he said , there was no local educational tour either since schools had switched to online mode of education.
All Comments ()+^ Back to Top
Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.
HIDE