JAIPUR: Private schools across the state are in a fix over the revision of school timings due to the heatwave. Most schools have extended their session till May to cover the learning loss of the last two years because of irregular classes due to the pandemic.
The schools are finding it difficult to complete the courses with the time being decreased by at least 2-3 hours. Education expert
Puneet Sharma
said, “Several reports have pointed out that learning gap in both private and government schools is a reason that almost majority of schools are functioning in May. Any harsh decision by the state can jeopardise the objective of schools to bring students to the level of the class they are studying.”
Reports have pointed out that class 5 students’ learning outcome in reading, comprehension and mathematics has gone down to class 3 or 4 levels due to two years of Covid.
“A balance approach is very important as both the stakeholder schools and the government always work in the interest of the students. The schools have to think out of the box or have to start the online classes to cover the academic loss in case classes are hampered due to heat,” said
Jameel Khan, director, We Can group of schools.
Some schools have shifted to the hybrid model to cover the losses amid revision in school timings. Jayshree Periwal International School is following the government order but they are also running online classes to make up the learning gap.
Educationist Puneet
Sharma
said health and covering of learning outcomes both are important. “Schools shouldn’t hurry in completing the previous year subjects/topics which are important for the current session. The impact of lockdown or closure of classes are not possible to cover it in a month’s time. Schools have to take out time from the running session and have to cut down on Diwali and winter vacations,” said Sharma.
Government schools will run the session till May 17.
Prakash Mishra
, spokesperson of Rajasthan Teachers Association, said most of the government schools are not equipped to handle the harsh summer weather. “The absence of power connections or even if power connections exist, schools don’t have fans and water coolers. In such inhuman conditions, the government should either run the classes till 11 am or suspend the classes in the interest of students,” Mishra said.
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