Coronavirus Outbreak: Here's how Delhi govt plans to continue school education

Amid the coronavirus outbreak and nationwide lockdown in the country, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia today announced that students studying up to class 8 will be promoted, under the Right to Education Act. 

As per the no-detention policy under the Right to Education Act, students from nursery to class 8 will be promoted to the next class.

After having a discussion with teachers, principals, academicians of both government and private schools, the Delhi government has come out with several initiatives to avoid any loss of study of the students, he said. 

Explaining the initiatives, he said that parents of children studying till class 8 will be given an activity daily through SMS and Interactive Voice Response (IVR). This activity will aim to enhance their writing, speaking and reading, thinking ability. Students will maintain these activities in their respective notebooks as a project, which will be checked by the teachers once the school re-opens. This project work will be marked and will be carried forward under internal assessment.

The minister also requested school teachers to stay in touch with their students during this period. They have also been urged to answer queries raised by students.

Online classes will also be organized by the teachers for students studying in Class 12 who will be appearing for their board examinations next year. "Every day two classes will be held for class 12th students. To attend these classes, students have to register themselves on an online platform. The link for the registration will be provided to all the students through SMS," he added.

Those who will register will also get financial help from the government of Delhi to buy data packages to run their internet. This is being done keeping in mind the poorest of poor who cannot afford data package but are willing to complete their studies. This facility will be made available from the first week of April for all Class 12th students. After a period of time, this facility will also be started for students studying in class 10th.

The government is also working on starting an educational platform on television for various subjects for different classes.

Discussions are being held with CBSE to find all possible ways to go ahead with studies for class 9th, the minister further added.

After the announcement of class 10th result, the government will come up with initiatives to students who get promoted to class 11th. It hopes that by then, the coronavirus and lockdown will be over and regular classes can be resumed.