Experts Urge Maharashtra Govt To Reconsider Ban On Online Teaching Till Class II

Maharashtra: Industry experts and teachers have urged the Maharashtra government to reconsider its decision on the ban on online teaching till Class II.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has given a nod to commence schools in the state via online or digital mode from Class III onwards from July.

Expressing concern over children losing the bond with teachers and classmates if not allowed to appear for online classes, educationists have urged the state government to allow the conduct of least half an hour of online interaction for children of Class I and II.

However, the state education department has said that students of Class I and II can view educational television programmes. The concepts taught here will not be in accordance with the curriculum, said the principals.

A letter has been sent to the School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad, Early Childhood Association, and Association for Primary Education and Research in this regard, TimesNowNews.Com reported.

The letter reads, “We aren’t sure if parents will send children to school once they open. Even if they do, it would mean that five to six months of learning year have already been lost and schools will be forced to club a lot of topics together.”

Some school principals have asked for more clarity on online classes. They want to know whether this ban applies to live online sessions or to pre-recorded videos as well. According to Principal Zeenat Bhojabhoy, “Pre-recorded online sessions can be viewed on television. Moreover, most parents don’t know what content needs to be taught, and may not have the required time to teach.”