New Delhi: In order to ensure the continuum of learning and mitigate the impact of the pandemic, the Ministry of Education earlier this week wrote to states and Union territories with a plan for “learning recovery”.
The plan includes financial support of Rs 500 to students, funds for primary school teachers to purchase tablets, and Rs 20 lakh per state and Union territory to conduct an oral reading fluency (ORF) study.
Guidelines issued by Joint Secretary Maneesh Garg on 1 February as part of the Learning Enhancement Programme (LRP) include actions to standardise intervention and training of teachers, and close interaction between teachers and parents to facilitate home-based schooling in case of future school closures.
The order also states that student attendance isn’t mandatory but dependent entirely on parental consent. However, it has allowed states to decide on parental consent to attend physical classes.
In order to prevent students from dropping out, the ministry has suggested that students not be detained during this academic session. It also advised states to provide additional intervention to help students recoup.
“Wherever states have amended their state Right to Education (RTE) rules to allow for detention in classes 5 and or 8, they may consider giving relaxation from detention this year. This would go a long way in preventing dropouts. States may like to keep a watch on the situation for any further consideration to prevent dropouts until the pandemic-related situation stabilises,” the guidelines said.
The Union government said Thursday at its briefing that Uttar Pradesh (86.12 per cent of eligible school staff has at least received first-dose), Assam (87.6 per cent), Manipur (78.1 per cent), Haryana (79 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (86.12 per cent) are lagging behind in vaccination of teaching and non-teaching staff.
It also noted that states and Union territories like Lakshadweep, Tripura, Maharashtra, Puducherry, West Bengal and Bihar have vaccinated close to or hundred per cent of teaching and non-teaching staff.
To date, 11 states and Union territories have opened their schools and 16 have reopened educational institutions partially, while they continue to remain shut in 9 states.
(Edited by Manoj Ramachandran)
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