Edusat channels evoke poor response in Haryana

Chandigarh, April 22

The state Education Department’s move to telecast Edusat programmes for the first time is getting little response. The telecast of teachers’ lectures for all classes through Edusat started on four TV channels on April 15. However, less than 20 per cent have watched it so far, as per the report compiled by the department on April 21.

Government school teachers contacted their students to know how many of them watched the programmes. As a result, just 17.4 per cent students i.e. 3.58 lakh of as many as 20.60 lakh, have watched these programmes so far.

For Classes I-V, the response rate is 16 per cent while it is 19 per cent for Classes VI to VIII and 18 per cent for Classes IX to XII.

One of the poorest responses have come from Faridabad, where none of the 44,110 students of Classes I to V watched the programmes. Also, just 1 per cent of 26,502 students of Classes V to VIII and 3 per cent of 28,928 students of Classes IX to XII tuned in to the channels. In Jind, 1 per cent of 1.1 lakh students of Classes I to XII watched the channels.

In Bhiwani, 2 per cent students of Classes I to V watched the programmes, while it is 3 per cent for Classes VI to XII. In Karnal, the response is 1 per cent for Classes I to V, 3 per cent for Classes VI to VIII and 6 per cent for Classes IX to XII.

Fatehabad, Panchkula, Hisar and Sirsa are also on the lower side.

When contacted, Principal Secretary, School Education, Mahavir Singh said, “There is no other way to teach students at home than through TV. Government school students don’t have gadgets like smartphones and Internet so online classes are not an option. It is for the first time that Edusat programmes are being telecast on TV. The penetration will rise.”

Power cuts, no phones other hiccups

“In some districts, there is no power during the day and hence no option of watching TV. The telecast has to be streamlined as it is still not as per the time table. We have tried using WhatsApp for education but many school students don’t have personal phones. They rely on their parents’ phones, who usually go out these days for wheat harvesting,” said Kulbhushan Sharma, president, Haryana Adhyapak Sangh.

“Besides relying on TV, we are using WhatsApp groups to interact with students,” said Dharampal, Block Education Officer, Nilokheri, and ex-president of Haryana School Education Officers’ Association.

Better feedback from Sonepat, Jhajjar

• In Sonepat, 67% primary students, 72% of Classes VI to VIII and 60% of Classes IX to XII watched the Edusat programmes
• In Jhajjar, 47% primary students, 74% of Classes VI to VIII and 57% of Classes IX to XII tuned in to Edusat channels