State schools say hybrid teaching impractical – Times of India

Nagpur: As more and more schools are reopening across Maharashtra, there are increasing cases of online classes being stopped completely. Schools’ associations say there is an urgent need to bring students back to classes as the online learning model was “not effective”, while the hybrid model (conducting classes online as well as offline) is “impractical”.

Unaided Schools Forum (USF) is an All Maharashtra School Association, under which all the renowned CBSE Schools are included. USF Honorary Secretary Subhash Chandra Kedia said that it is not possible to teach both online and offline in what is called the hybrid model.

“If a teacher is taking physical classes, then things like net connectivity, audio quality etc. are out of his control and distracting,” Kedia said. He cited the example of Mumbai, which is now preparing to reopen schools like pre-Covid times. Kedia said, “A circular has already been issued by the civic body in which it has allowed 100% attendance from March 2. Hence, the entire staff and students on roll will be allowed to come and operate throughout the day.”

He added that once full-time school starts like pre-covid times this week, online will become redundant.

“When we are talking about full day school there is no need for online classes. Attendance is increasing everywhere, which shows that even parents want to send children back to school,” Kedia said.

In the past few months, TOI has reported about the online class option of schools reopening in physical mode. As per the orders of the state government, which will remain in effect, both online and offline mode should continue.

Ashok Gawankar, general secretary of Vidarbha Junior College Teachers’ Association, said that since the pandemic started, more than half the students in Nagpur itself have not taken proper education.

“The online class system is highly dependent on the type of infrastructure you have at home (phone, net speed, finance for recharge etc.). Even in schools where online was going on, academic results are not good as students were only sitting in front of the screen,” said Gavankar.

Kedia said that there is nothing wrong if schools insist on offline classes. “The academic and emotional well-being of the students is best taken care of in an offline setting. The pandemic has already taken a major toll on academics and all stakeholders must now make a concerted effort to ensure that children do not suffer anymore,” he said.