Mechanism in place for ensuring Academic session does not suffer: Advisor Sharma

Jammu: The Advisor to Lt Governor, K.K. Sharma Monday said the students are being provided the necessary interventions and mechanism is in place so that their academic session and education does not suffer.
The Advisor was reviewing the initiatives being undertaken by the Directorate of School Education, Jammu (DSEJ) with regard to making available the academic content to the students through online, digital and other media.
Director School Education Jammu (DSEJ), Anuradha Gupta and other senior officers participated through Video conferencing.
While complimenting the Directorate of Education for coming up to the expectations of the general public in the testing times, the Advisor said they have through their initiatives provided the much needed interventions to the students so that their academic session does not suffer. He said the UT of Jammu and Kashmir has been among first in the country to come up with the solutions in the education sector in view of the global pandemic.
The Director school education informed the meeting that immediately after the closure of schools due to Covid 19 spread, the DSEJ set up online and offline platforms to cater to the specific needs of students especially in view of the fact that many students in Govt schools belong to the most deprived sections of society. The initiatives include DSEJ’s Home Classes which started on 27th March by creating a window on www.schedujammu.nic.in, providing high quality, curriculum based interactive e-content in all subjects, covering in the first phase, the classes from 6th to 12th as per academic calendar already devised by DSEJ.
Similarly, links to all Key digital resources provided by MHRD are also being provided on the website for the convenience of students: -DIKSHA: https://diksha.gov.in or https://seshaqun.gov.in/shaqun, e-PATHSHALA: http://epathshala.nic.in or http://epathshala.gov.in., National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER):http://nroer.gov.in/welcome, SWAYAM: www.swavam.gov.in, SWAYAM PRABHA: www.swavamprabha.gov.in, Vikas Pedia: http://vikaspedia.in/education, NCERT: http://ncert.nic.in/textbook/textbook.htm MHRD: https://mhrd.gov.in/e-contents
It was also given out that circulation of content on official website, Telegram channels, Whats app groups, and other Social media platforms, collaboration with Radio Mirchi and Take one channel for broadcast/ telecast of lectures on complimentary basis is also being done. Strategies are being evolved in consultation with the district administration to provide printed notes/handouts to the students not having smart phones and cable network available. Text Books are being distributed in 66 educational zones of Jammu in summer zone. Text Books in winter zone have already been distributed.
The Director School education informed the Advisor that Parents / students are being provided uninterrupted access to Home assignment window created on DSEJ official website. To supplement online classes which are not interactive, DSEJ Home assignments have been started which comprise Network of WhatsApp groups at school level and to guide and monitor them, WhatsApp groups of JD/ CEOs/ ZEOs have been formed. Interactive classes are being held as per designated time schedule for each class and subject, for those students who don’t have smart phones, teachers are calling students regularly and guiding them in their studies besides giving them assignments to be done by them.
Besides, Weekly roaster of home assignments covering all classes is made available on website as well as whats app groups. Fun based activities as assignments being given on different subjects in four age groups; preprimary, classes 1st to 5th, classes 6th to 8th and classes 9th to 12th. The focus is on health, physical and mental fitness and basic arithmetic and language skills. Also encouraging children to know about local history, culture, language etc through parents during free time, it was given out.
Director school education also said DSEJ Online Series of contests are being held on above mentioned activities. For those who don’t have access to internet, teachers are being asked to tell students on phone to prepare themselves for such simple contests which would be held after schools reopen. This is being done to engage children from all kinds of backgrounds and Online detailed feedback Report with suggestions being collected, she added.
It was also given out that DSEJ is among the first directorates in the country to have started providing counselling to overcome anxiety, stress through already established Counselling helpline *Aao Baat karein* (6006800068)
Trained counsellors and clinical psychologists are available to provide service to parents and students. Queries related to stress, anxiety, academics, e-resources results & various other related issues emerged due to COVID-19 are also being handled by the experts. Continuous capacity development of tele-counsellors from institutes of National importance like NIMHANS Bangalore, Fortis Healthcare is also ensured.
The Advisor was also informed that DSEJ has come up with a novel idea of Academic Mentoring for students who are not able to access e content or online classes or if they are able to do so, they have doubts regarding some concepts. The tele-counselling Helpline Aao Baat Karein 6006800068 will connect such students to subject experts who can clear their doubts and also guide them further.
Besides the above initiatives, the Directorate also issued formal orders for mass promotion of all students from class 1st to 9th, with the approval of the administrative department. The mass promotion order of 11th class students was also issued by JK BOSE. The directorate is also supervising and coordinating the distribution of two months’ dry ration to eligible students at their households as per instructions of the Govt in the light of Supreme Court directions. Despite severe constraints, 92% of the students out of total 486257 children have been covered till date.
It is pertinent to mention that NCERT has now come up with Alternative Academic Calendar in view of closure of schools. It is encouraging to find that the Calendar is based on similar strategy and methodology already put in practice by DSEJ.