DSEK rebuts news item titled ‘30-minute online class big joke, will affect academics’

Srinagar: The office of Directorate of School Education (DSEK) Friday issued a rebuttal in reference to a news report publish in a Jammu based English Daily that reads ‘30-minute online class big joke, will affect academics: IKEC’ on 03 June, 2021.
As per the statement issued by DSEK, it has been informed that in view of present situation of pandemic and closure of Schools across J&K, it was imperative to explore possibility to handhold children in collaboration with community/stakeholders by reaching out to all enrolled students through online/offline mode and also explore possibility for those children who have no access to online teaching learning either due to lack of mobile connectivity in their area or non-availability of mobile devices.
It was given out that the School education department has taken various initiatives to promote digital education under programme namely “e-Vidalaya/ e-Gash” in addition to digital education programmes (e-resources) of Ministry of Education Gol, at National level “anytime anywhere learning”.
As the visual classes are different from physical classes, it has to be made more enjoyable and more experiential so that the students can develop more interest in academics instead of getting unnecessarily tired and stressed out and in view of that Government has issued the very comprehensive policy decision and issued guidelines for stream slots time and way of communication for online classes, read the statement.
It was further informed that this will suffice both interest of students, parents and management.
As per the details it was given out there shall be 30-minute sessions for Pre-Primary Classes and for class 1st to 8th “online synchronous learning may be undertaken not more than two sessions of 30 to 45 minutes (Approx. 1+1/2 hrs) on each day.
Besides, in the case of 9th to 12th “online synchronous learning may be undertaken not more than four sessions of 30 to 45 minutes (Approx. 3 Hrs) on each day.
Meanwhile, it has been informed that the decisions regarding timing are to be taken by Management/ Head of the Institutions.