Thousand of students' study affected because of lockdown

By Mehboob Inamdar

Aurangabad, March 10:

The study of thousands of school students from the district was affected during the current academic year because of lockdown.

It may be noted that all primary, secondary and higher secondary schools were shut down because of lockdown up to December, but online classes began from July. The actual classes for the 9th to 12th standards restarted from January 4 in the city.

The students from six to eight started attending actual classes from January first week. The classes for the 5th restarted on February 8. Students were happy to attend actual classes after nine months in the district as they faced many difficulties in online education, including network problem, unavailability of smartphone and laptop and electricity problem.

The actual classes from fifth to ninth and 11th were suspended from February 23 while students of 10th and 12th were attending it.

The administrated on Sunday announced the implementation of partial lockdown from March 11, directing to close physical classes for 10th and 12 standards up to April 4 following a rise in the figure of patients and mortality rate.

Talking to this newspaper, education B B Chavan said that as per the directives of districts administration, the actual classes of tenth and 12th would be halted from March 11 while schools would conduct online classes. He said that around 50 per cent of teaching staff would be called on duty on alternate days. Chavan refused to comment further on the loss of education of students.

Manish Hande, an office-bearer of Maharashtra State English School Trustees Association (MESTA) claimed that students study was affected because of lockdown.

“First time, such a large number of students are studying online. We are imparting online teaching in lockdown. Online learning is good, however, the impact of actual and online learning is different. Not all learners can ask questions,” he said.

Manish Hande said that they learnt from parents that students are not much concentrating in virtual learning.

“Some parents asked us not to promote their children in the next standard as the concepts of their children are not cleared,” he added.

Shaikh Mohsin, a parent, said that his child studying in the seventh standard was affected badly.

He said that what’s use of promoting a child in next class when his/her base is not strong in the existing standard.