‘For overall development, digitisation can’t play protagonist’

Post reopening of schools after a gap of nearly seven months, the school authorities are still finding it difficult to adapt to the new normal. What’s troubling more is conducting examinations amid apparent second wave of Covid-19. Saksham Singh, Principal, Army Public School, Jalandhar Cantt, while talking to Ajay Joshi, shares, it’s nearly a month since schools reopened, the classroom strength is still minimal. She further believes that online education can never be a complete substitute to practical education and learning. Excerpts from the interview.

As schools have reopened, what is the response of students?

Even as schools have been opened only for Classes XI-XII students, the footfall is still scarce. Most students told their teachers that their parents were unwilling to attend school due to Covid threat. However, those who are attending prefer offline classes over online sessions. They said, many concepts remain unclear in the digital classes. Presently, less than 50 per cent students are coming to school.

How has your school been dealing with the challenges posed by Covid-19?

In the month of October we were anticipating that the situation has normalised considering the downfall in Covid infections, but with the advent of second wave, the situation is again brewing panic. Whole online education concept came as a challenge for us. In fact, schools all around the country were not ready for online classes and the lack of technical support made it much tougher. Though it was troublesome for the teachers to understand the whole concept of digital education and focus individually on every student, they managed to adapt themselves to the online education.

What psychological changes you have observed among teachers and students?

The pandemic came as a big shock. Not only are the teachers overburdened but also the children. It has adversely affected the mental state as well as health of both. The concept of six-seven hours of teaching and learning has unexpectedly changed to a full day course and teachers are feeling the heat. After resumption, the teachers not only have to take classes in the school but also digitally. Likewise, the timings of lectures as per different schedules affect students. The teachers sometimes feel that due to online education, the teachers have lost that ‘discipline command’ they wield over students. Parents also complain about eye problems their children are suffering due to increased exposure to screens.

Are online examinations equally beneficial as physical ones?

Undeniably, conducting examinations in schools is more credible than the online exams. Though, the teachers diligently frame question papers students remained a worried lot. The winters are generally used as a golden time for revision of board classes. And the subsequent pre-board exams help them to understand the pattern. However, this is out of picture this year for the students. Online classes are only beneficial when individual attention is paid to all the students.

What will be your concern once the classroom teaching begins?

Apart from completing the syllabus of the students, we will have to ensure that there won’t be any psychological change among the students. The pandemic has changed their habits and school discipline has completely taken a back seat. So, making students adjust to the new normal could be a task in itself.

What infrastructural changes have been made for the digital sessions?

We have installed internet devices with better bandwidth in the school. Besides, we already have smart classes and technical labs in the schools so only fewer changes were made.

Do you think the digital shift in education is here to stay?

As far as the shift is concerned, the country as a whole isn’t ready for this. But more technical shift is required, which is currently unavailable. However, for the official tasks, digitalisation has already replaced the traditional methods of working in schools. Besides for the overall personality development of children virtual education can’t be a good option.

How was the response to admissions this year?

The admissions have been stable this year. Neither there were newcomers, nor did the existing students left the school. As most of the students here are wards of the Army men, the postings of their respective fathers were cancelled due to the pandemic.