The Human Resource Development Minister released an alternative academic circular which shall cater to the needs of all the classes from I-XII and subject areas to be covered.
On 16th April a circular had been released stating that to significantly engage students during the lockdown an alternative calendar has been developed by NCERT under the guidance of Human Resource Development Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
The minister stated that the Calendar provides guidelines on the use of various technological tools and social media tools available by the teachers for imparting education in fun-filled, interesting ways and that it can be even used while at home, it has taken into account, the varying levels of access to such tools-Mobile, Radio, Television, SMS and various social media.
While developing the alternative the Ministry also considered the fact that many may not have the internet facility to use social media. It also provides guidelines for teachers as well as parents and students through SMS on mobile phones or calls.
All the classes from I-XII and subject areas are covered under this calendar. It will also cater to the needs of all children including the children with special abilities.
He added that the calendar also contains week-wise plan consisting of interesting and challenging tasks to assess the progress of children. He highlighted that the calendar covers experiential learning activities such as Arts Education, Physical Exercises, yoga, pre-vocational skills, etc. It further includes activities related to four languages as subject areas, i.e., Hindi English, Urdu and Sanskrit. It consists of strategies of reducing stress and anxiety among teachers, students and parents and includes a link for Chapter wise e-content available on the e-pathshala, NROER and DIKSHA portal of GoI.
He further added that all the given activities are suggestive, not prescriptive, nor is the sequence mandatory. Teachers and parents may opt to contextualise the activities and do those activities that the student shows interest in, irrespective of the sequence.
It will be disseminated through DTH Channels and also conducting video conferencing with SCERTs, Directorates of Education, SCERTs, KendriyaVidyalaySangathan, NavodayaVidyalayaSamiti, CBSE, State School Education Boards, etc.
This calendar shall ensure meaningful utilisation of time during this lockdown and that the teachers, students, parents can deal with COVID-19 with positivity.