High schools to get temporary staff for 100 days of classes

BHUBANESWAR: School and mass education minister Samir Ranjan Dash has asked the district education officers (DEOs) to engage teachers from schools that won’t reopen soon, or retired teachers, in high schools with inadequate staff strength to ensure 100 days of classroom study for class X and XII students.
“If we cannot do 100 days of classroom teaching, we may not complete the course on time,” Dash said.He added that DEOs had been asked to appoint retired teachers in high schools and to divert PG teachers from elementary schools to high schools with high teacher vacancy.
Teachers said it would be stressful for them and students to attend classes for 100 days straight. “Teachers have household responsibilities and health issues to address too. We are requesting the government to let at least Sundays be holidays,” said Prakash Chandra Mohanty, secretary of Odisha Secondary School Teachers’ Association.
Psychologists and students’ counsellors also said 100 days of classroom teaching might have an adverse impact on children’s health. “Learning should be joyful. It should be followed by rest for better retention,” said Namita Mohanty, former professor of psychology in Utkal University.
Parents are worried too. “Kids have not attended class for over nine months and inertia has set in. At the same time, they are anxious about exams. Classes for 100 days may do more harm than good,” said Nandini Sahu, a parent.
A children’s counsellor, however, said kids were resilient. “I am glad the government has made it mandatory to provide students with psychosocial guidance. Reopening of schools can be stressful as students have to move out of their comfort zones,” said Isha Ipsita Satpathy, a counsellor at DAV Public School, Chandrasekharpur.
In Rourkela, parents are unwilling to sign an undertaking saying they have allowed their wards to attend school. “The undertaking is mandatory,” said Sidharth Rath, principal, DPS-Rourkela. “We have asked parents to submit it in person or through email,” he added.
Office-bearers of All India Parents Association have expressed their reservations over this. “The government must take responsibility for the safety of kids,” said Surendra Das, general secretary of the state unit of the association.
(With inputs from Mihir Ray in Rourkela)