For students who do not have any smart phones or TV, virtual classes have been started on Swayamprabha channel and national broadcaster Doordarshan; the chapters have been linked to YouTubes; and the students have also been provided with the option of “drop box” .
As per a circular by the Uttar Pradesh Secondary Education Board (UPSEB), for the students from Class 9 to 12, these are part of the 2020-21 academic calendar. In keeping view of the coronavirus pandemic, the revised schedule, which has been finalized, will be coming into effect from August 18. Till the end of the academic year, this will remain in force depending on the COVID-19 guidelines of the Central government’s.
On Thursday, according to the released circular, after considering government’s Covid-19 guidelines the board said the examinations can be held online or offline .
The e-books on Diksha portal has been introduced by the government with YouTube links and has decided to expand this initiative by streaming class-wise lectures on Swayamprabha as well as Doordarshan channels.
UPSEB brought in the “drop box” facility under which study material would be sent to them to ensure that all the students without any digital devices or TV do not lag behind the schedule. These students have the facility to submit their answer sheets in the “drop box” which shall be kept in the school.
According to the sources it has been said that around 18-20 per cent students in the state do not have access to online classes. The number of such students who lack access to internet or smartphones is higher in Mirzapur division of Eastern UP and Chitrakoot region of Bundelkhand.
“Patrachar Shikshan Sansthan” (Uttar Pradesh State Open School) in Prayagraj, has prepared the study materials for them.
Each district shall receive the revised calendar, and all the school inspectors have been asked to publicise it. With help from National Informatics Centre (NIC) experts, the inspectors have been directed to train principals so that they can in return train their teachers for a better future.
On the web portal of UPSEB, Prayagraj the syllabus for the current academic year has been uploaded.
According to the finalized schedule, the syllabus of the academics has to be completed by the month of January. In February, the internal examinations for Class 9 and 11 shall be conducted and in April board examinations for Class 10 and 12 respectively.
UPSEB has also directed schools that by calling an online meeting the school must select working committee of the Parents-Teachers Association.
He said that for each class and subject, schools have been asked to form WhatsApp groups. With the help of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University in Lucknow, 600 videos were made for the purpose, says sources.