Uncertainty over school opening; There shall be no Year-round vacation

The current academic year will not be a ‘zero year’ for colleges and higher secondary institutions, education ministry officials told a parliamentary panel , indicating that they hoped to conduct exams by the end of the session. They also said that online classes are only meant for school children above class 3 and only limited number of online classes are allowed for those up to 8th standard.

School education secretary, higher education secretary, UGC Chairman and other officials of the education ministry briefed the parliamentary standing committee on Human Resource Development on the education scenario in the wake of the corona virus pandemic.

Some of the sources have said that close to 15 percent students enrolled in Delhi government schools are not ‘traceable” since the lockdown has announced and have not been attending the alternative classes conducted online or through phones, according to deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Furthermore, as students and teachers together are trying to adapt to this sudden shift to e-learning from the traditional system of classroom setting owing to the covid-19 pandemic, underperforming students might bear the biggest burnt of this transition.    

The uncertainty over the school re-opening continues. The problem is that despite the agreement to open schools in stages from September 1, most states have not taken a positive stance. The centre said that it had not made a final decision on the timing of the school’s opening. And also said that there would be no ‘Zero Academic Year’ where studies and examinations would be completely abolished.

 The education secretary Amit Khera had told the parliamentary standing committee on parliamentary affairs that there would be no complete closure this academic year. Briefly ,there will be only final year exams at the school and college level. The ministry said it plans to start classes in late September or October for older children, but the final decision will depend on how covid spreads.

The centre government is of the view that there is no conductive environment in any state for schools to remain open. At the same time, they don’t agree to the opinion of extending the vacation for student even though they are in online classes. Therefore, it is planned to start classes 10 to 12 by the end of September. The decision will be taken by the states considering the situation in the respective areas. The students can get classes online and offline. All circumstances will be ensured for the conduct of the examination. The government’s position before the parliamentary committee was that it did not intent to grant a full leave this year. At the same time CBSE have already released their circular regarding the portions cut off. CBSE has reduced the portion of students from class 9 to 12. 

However, panel members raised questions On the viability of online classes for poor families who cannot afford mobile phones or laptops or computers. A majority of poor families, especially in rural areas, may have one mobile phone among the members. 

Senior BJP leader also suggested creation of a ‘big question bank’ of all subjects for students on the basis of which questions should be asked whenever the exams are held for this academic session.