Rayagada: With social distancing being essential due to coronavirus pandemic and schools remaining closed for lockdown 4.0, the ST/SC Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department has come up with an innovative learning and mentorship programme to tide over the crisis in remote areas.
According to the scheme, which was launched in Rayagada district, the teachers are visiting villages and gathering students of Class I to VI at convenient places and taking their classes on language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science by maintaining social distancing.
Sources said on the first day, 203 teachers visited as many villages and imparted education to 3,009 students. Besides, psychosocial counselling, promotion of creative work and remedial coaching have been planned.
The first phase of this new learning system from May 15 to June 17 has been set up in which 64,000 SC/ST students staying in 560 hostels under 11 blocks will benefit.
Notably, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on December 4 launched a new scheme ‘Mission Suvidya’ that will ensure the quality of amenities for scheduled category students residing in hostels of the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Caste Development Department.