In a virtual discussion series on MISSION 3-5-8, a nationwide campaign on education, experts urged the State Government to focus on school infrastructure and use lockdown as an opportunity to start remedial classes to help weaker students learn faster and be like other students.
Organised by the Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha, the Mahila Shramajeebee Mancha and the Atmashakti Trust, the discussion entitled “Policy, planning and approaches of school education during Covid-19" was joined by more than 100 CSO representatives across the State.
The representatives decried the lack of required school infrastructure and the woes of online education that has left lakhs of rural children in the lurch.
Participating in the discussion, , national manager of ActionAid and advisor on RTE to Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Ghasiram Panda said, "Covid 19 has made us comprehend once again that we are far behind in fulfilling the norms and standards for our schools as envisaged in RtE. It has been the major bottleneck in achieving the minimum level of learning.â€
“Children, mostly from the poor-families, who study in Government-run schools, are the worst sufferers as their learning has taken a halt. Though the State Governments have offered several online classes, both teachers and students are facing challenges as there is an absence of physical classrooms and proper digital infrastructure. The disparity in access from smartphones, computer, electricity and internet connections also pose a challenge to mitigate the learning gapâ€, the participants in the discussion lamented.
According to the information shared by School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash, more than 20 lakh children are attending the online classes so far, offered by the Government, which stands at only 33.33 %. However, data from the secondary sources claim that only 6 lakh children have so far benefited from the programme. Online classes cannot ensure the education of all children, especially the marginalised children who do not have a smartphone or a laptop added with the costly affair of buying an internet pack, they opined.
“Therefore, the State Government should immediately start remedial classes for the students so that the learning gap of the disadvantageous children can be bridged,†the participants urged.
