Fresh guidelines have been issued for online classes being imparted in the schools. Centre has capped the screen time for students as well as teachers across categories.
The new rules have been put in place after parents complained. The screen time has increased due to online classes. The parents claimed that schools have been trying to conduct online classes in the same fashion as pre-Covid times.
This decision will impact over 240 million children enrolled in the schools that remain closed because of COVID -19.
Titled “PRAGYATA“, directions of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD ) proposes cap on the duration and number of online classes or sessions a day for students from Class 1 to 12th. Board has issued directions to school under digital education, they have to follow following steps of online learning –
Plan, Review, Arrange, Guide-talk, Assign, Track, and Appreciate.
Guidelines Set Limits
Pre-primary Classes: should not exceed 30 minutes
Classes 1 to 8: Two sessions of 30-45 minutes per day
Classes 9th to 12th: max four sessions of 30-45 minutes per day.
Teachers: Two to three hours of online activity per day
The guidelines highlighted that it is important to have presentations that are easily readable, slides must follow certain rules. Rules like not more than five bullet points, maximum use of a graph, chart and infographics. Also avoid tables as much as possible.
“To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, schools will not only have to remodel and reimagine the way teaching and learning have happened so far but will also need to introduce a suitable method of delivering quality education through a healthy mix of schooling at home and schooling at school,” HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank said.
He said that the guidelines have been made with a focus on online education for students who are at home.
“The guidelines have been developed from the perspective of learners. With a focus on online, blended, digital education for students who are presently at home due to the lockdown.
“These guidelines on digital education provide a roadmap or pointers for carrying forward online education to enhance the quality of education,” Nishank added.
Concerns while planning digital education and online classes like duration, screen time, balanced online and offline activities, inclusiveness, level-wise modalities of intervention, including resource curation, level-wise delivery; physical – mental health and well being during digital education, cyber safety and ethical practices including precautions and measures for maintaining cyber safety.
By Rashmi Sharma
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