Follow guidelines to avoid excess online teaching, schools directed

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 15

The state government today directed all principals/ headmasters of government and private schools to implement the Pragya guidelines for digital education to avoid excess online teaching.

In a letter addressed to all Deputy Directors of higher education and elementary education, Director Higher Education Amarjeet Sharma said that the Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India, had already circulated the guidelines in this regard.

The guidelines concerning the planning of online and digital education such as duration, screen time, inclusiveness, balance of online and offline activities, stage-wise interventions for health and mental wellness had been issued so that children did not get overly stressed or get affected negatively due to postural defects, ophthalmic issues and other physical problems.

The guidelines also provided sufficient do’s and don’ts regarding cyber safety of the students. The schools had been advised to avoid online education on mobile phones and laptops and depend on radio or TV programmes.

In case of availability of online and offline mobile and laptops applications for children below Class II, their parents must be engaged as a bridge between the digital device and the child. For Class IX to XII, not more than four sessions of 35 to 40 minutes be held and special attention should be paid to children with special needs.

Further, different online studies should be formulated for various classes and students of different age groups by consultations between teachers and parents. Teachers should also take into consideration learning styles while planning group-wise sessions, as some students learn by reading, some by listening and some be doing things.

There have been complaints that students are overburdened and their parents are also stressed due to long online sessions and allied activities.

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