The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has issued an advisory to the private schools directing them not to take long-duration online-classes everyday citing its ill effects on health of children.
As per the advisory, the private schools have been asked to devise a schedule for online, interactive classes in consultation with the representatives of parents’ association of their schools.
The advisory has been issued in wake of the orders issued for continuity of online and distance classes for students.
“Schools should not focus on quick completion of syllabus. The government is seized of the extraordinary circumstances and suitable decision regarding revision of academic calendar in consultation with the concerned boards can be considered later,” the advisory reads.
The department has asked the private schools not to be in hurry to complete the syllabus by sending videos in large number and holding long classes through Zoom or Google classes. “Only limited number of videos should be sent and the children be asked to go through the videos and try to understand the concepts,” it reads.
The schools have been asked to encourage the students to raise their doubts which can be clarified by the concerned teachers in the whatsapp groups of classes.
“The duration of online classes be decided mutually with the parents in the light of advice of doctors and experts on the subject,” the advisory reads.
The department has suggested that emphasis should be given on making the children understand basic concepts through self-learning and activities which can be done by the students at home.
“A rich e-content developed by NCERT, CBSE, JKBOSE which is easily available on internet, links are also available on our website www.schedujammu.nic.in,” it reads.
The directorate has also asked the schools to compile a list of those students who do not have internet facility but have television sets in their homes. “Data should be prepared in respect of students who neither have internet facility nor TV but have simple phone or do not have any facility of mobile phone at home,” reads the advisory.
The department has asked the private schools of Jammu division to also lay down mechanism for providing education to their students through alternative methods as per the availability of facilities with the latter.
“All private schools shall nominate one official or a group of officials for formal registration of the grievances of the parents of their students and redress them in a time bound manner strictly in the light of government order, rules and regulations,” the advisory reads, adding that the parents can complaint to the directorate along with documentary proof in case the schools were not able to redress the grievance within the time notified by the school.
The directorate has also issued advisory for parents working from home to supervise what is being taught to their kids through online mode. “Parents may take care that the child should not spend more than five to six hours on internet or TV. After watching the video which could be at the most 15-20 minutes, the child be encouraged to note down what he or she has understood,” it reads.