Odisha Govt to Reopen Shools from July 26 View of Inconvenience Students During Online Classes due to Poor Network

Bureau,Odishabarta

Bhubaneswar: In view of inconvenience faced by students during online classes due to poor network in rural and remote areas, Odisha Government has decided to reopen schools for Classes X and XII students from July 26.
Addressing a presser on virtual mode on Saturday, School and Mass Education Secretary Satyabrata Sahu said, “We are able to reach only 40 per cent of the total students through online teaching while another 60 per cent are still left behind. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the school students in the State have lost 150 days of classroom teaching.”

Now, both private and Government-run schools will reopen for Classes X and XII students from July 26. The classes will be held from 10 am to 1.30 pm for the students without recess hour. The schools will remain closed on Sundays and all holidays, he said. However, the schools, which will be used as examination centres, will be reopened at a later stage after completion of the tests, Sahu said.

The Government is issuing a detailed SOP for resumption of the classes in adherence to the Covid-19 guidelines. However, it is not mandatory for all students. Those who wish to attend the classes physically can attend the schools, the Secretary said. Along with Classes X and XII, the present online mode of teaching will also continue for all classes, he said. The district collectors will take a final call on reopening of schools after reviewing the COVID situation in their districts concerned.

Moreover, Sahu said the State Government is planning to reopen the schools for Classes IX and XI students from August 16 and September 15, respectively. The classes for Class XI students will be held from September 15 after completion of admission into Plus II courses, he said.

Keeping the prevailing pandemic situation in mind, Odisha Government has also decided to adopt a continuous and comprehensive evaluation process so that the evaluation can be done throughout the academic year, he said.
All the teachers will be vaccinated on a priority basis before schools are reopened and District Education Officers have been instructed to ensure that all COVID-19 protocols are strictly followed.

The State Government will introduce the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) methodology for evaluation of students’ performance in classes IX and X from the academic year 2021-22. Odisha’s new assessment criteria will be on the lines of CBSE and other education boards in the country.
According to the provision of the CCE, in the 2021-22 academic year, the department has decided to conduct four formative (short) and two summative assessments. The four formative assessments will be held in the second weeks of September, November, January and March. The final examinations will be held as usual in March.

Sahu also said the Council of Higher Secondary Education is planning to start the CCE system at the Plus II level. The performance of students in practical and projects will be evaluated continuously throughout the academic year, he said.

Sahu said offline Matric Exams (Class 10) will be held from July 30 to August 5 adhering to Covid protocols.

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