With schools shifting to online classes amid the COVID19 lockdown, parents have alleged schools were overburdening the students with assignments in a bid to complete the syllabus.
“Every day I receive a new video from teachers for mydaughter to memorise. I wonder how a four-year-old child can grasp new learningmaterial in a single day and move on to learn new topic next day,” saidAmbreen, a parent.
She said the practice adopted by the teachers was not onlyaffecting her daughter, but she too was “feeling confused and depressed.”
“I find it very hard to make my child cope up with theassignments she gets every day,” she said.
Parents also blamed the teachers for pressing the panicbutton as school authorities were trying to “only focus” on completion of thesyllabus to ensure the academic session was not lost.
“But it shouldn’t be done at the cost of mental and physicalhealth of a student,” said Junaid, another parent. “Teachers should understandthat there is a vast difference in school teaching and home teaching. Many kidsdon’t look upon their parents as teachers. Main objective should be to make thekids learn rather than hurry to finish their syllabus,” said the parent.
Apart from the slow internet speed, parents have also showedtheir dismay over the video content send on social media platform like WhatsAppfor the students.
“The videos we receive fail to grab the attention of thestudents. As hard as I try, my kids get bored and resist these unattractivevideos. Teachers should refrain from the arm-twisting tactics and should focuson child psychology,” said another parent.
Touseef-ul-Ayoub, a pediatrician at SKIMS Bemina saidoverburdening the students with the study material syllabus beyond theircapacity can cause behavioural issues among the children.
“Earlier, homework used to be the matter of an hour. Butthese days, it exceeds four to six hours. Such piling up of syllabus on kidscan cause irritability among kids. Temper tantrums, agitation and anxiety couldprevail among kids as a result of overburdening them with the work,” he said.
The doctor said schools should send innovative content andmotivational videos including physical activity videos for effective learning.
“Creative content should be given emphasis. Guidelinesshould be set by the government and private school association to ensureeducation does not affect our kids in an unhealthy manner,” he said.
All Private School Association President, GN Var said arecent order by principal secretary school education, Asgar Hasan Samoonclearly mentions the students should not be burdened with books.
“Action shall be taken against the schools violating theorder,” he said. “Children should be provided with the content that they wouldunderstand easily. The aim should be involvement of kids in a creative way.Burdening them with studies will affect their mental health. We will takeaction against the schools who are putting huge pressure on tiny shoulders,” hesaid.