EXPERTS URGE FOR REMEDIAL CLASSES TO BRIDGE THE LEARNING GAP

Bureau,Odishabarta

BHUBANESWAR, 8th September: In order to bridge the learning gap, remedial classes will help those children who are lagging on their learning. Similarly, offline education should continue since the schools are shut down following the imposition of nationwide lockdown, as the children have remained out of education for more than five months, said experts while participating in a state-level virtual discussion on the topic “Quality elementary education for all during COVID 19: Challenges and opportunities” which was jointly organised by Odisha Shramajeebee Mancha and Mahila Shramajeebee Mancha in partnership with Atmashakti Trust, New Delhi.

Hrushikesh Mirdha, a youth volunteer from Goramal, Nuapada has been teaching children in his villages since last 15 days. A migrant returnee, Hrushikesh could stop himself when he realised that children of his villages are detaching from education due to the school closure. He joined Shramajeebee Bikash Mancha, Nuapada in their remedial classes initiative and he feels that remedial classes can be done following the COVID 19 norms. In another testimony, Subrat Mohanty from Udala, Mayurbhanj told that class-V children in his working areas are not able to read class-II subjects. Remedial class is helping them to come back to their education.

Dr Arabinda Behera, Former Principal Secretary and a Member, Board of Revenue, Government of Odisha, who addressed the webinar said:“Remedial classes are necessary to bridge the learning gap among children, for those who are slow learners”.

“Also, our policy must embrace a Common School System which could offer equitable education for all. In addition to that, there is a need to recognise the critical role of teachers in imparting quality education in classrooms”, Dr Behera stressed.

Sri Achyuta Das, Director of the non-profit Agragamee who also addressed the webinar, emphasised on the possible alternatives for revamping public education in the state.

“To impart quality education in the classroom, we must have quality teachers in our schools. Secondly, there is a need for collaborative and concerted efforts on issues affecting education as the glaring digital divide posing a massive challenge for children of rural Odisha,” Mr Das said.

The speakers also appreciated the efforts of the organizations for bringing out a study on the student’s learning level and taking up remedial classes for the low performing children as they believe, this would help these children to be at par with their peers when they restart their schooling.

The webinar witnessed more than 125 participants from across the state from diverse background ranging from Sangathan members, youths, education activists and representatives of NGOs/CSOs.

Recently, The state government is contemplating to initiate Siksha Samparka Programme under which teachers will visit villages of the students facing poor-teledensity and digital resources to avail online classes. But children and their parents are still in uncertainty over its launch as the state government has not yet announced any clear guidelines to implement it.

Before that, The Odisha School Education Programme (OSEPA) had also rolled out Ujjwala (classes I-V and Utthan (classes VI-VIII) scheme to improve learning outcomes and standard appropriate competences. But the Scheme, which had a target to substantially impact the state-wide learning outcomes benefiting over 40 lakh students across the state, remained mostly unsuccessful.