Rain shuts schools, classes shift to online mode

The state government has announced an eight-day closure of schools across the city due to heavy rainfall and flooding, causing a setback to students’ academic routine as their mid-term examinations are approaching

To mitigate the academic loss, most private schools have resumed teaching through online classes since last Tuesday. “The syllabus for most classes and subjects was already completed ahead of the forthcoming mid-term examinations. These were supposed to be our revision days. Our teachers have been conducting online classes for all grades. However, the level of seriousness and attentiveness is never quite the same in online classes and thus, there has certainly been a detrimental effect,” said KS Randhawa, Principal, MGN Public School, Adarsh Nagar.

He added that if physical classes resume by September 4, the school will begin the mid-term exams as scheduled from September 8. “However, it was important to keep the students at home during these days due to the potential risks. Also, this has been a time for students to learn life lessons and understand the concepts of natural calamities and their geographical reasons. Once students return to school, we will encourage them to contribute donations and thus instil in them a sense of responsibility and compassion towards those affected,” he said.

Innocent Hearts School has decided to postpone practical examinations, which were scheduled to take place before the mid-term exams beginning September 15. “We had initially assigned homework and assignments when schools were closed for a day on August 26. But as the holidays got extended, we switched to online classes. We will continue with the online mode till September 3 and wait for further instructions from the government,” said Principal Rajiv Paliwal.

Amid continuing rainfall this morning, staff members of several schools had to rush to campuses to safeguard electronic and electrical equipment.

At Police DAV School, water began seeping into classrooms on the top floor, prompting staff to remove Smart Boards from the walls to prevent damage. “The rainwater entered via the solar panels installed on the rooftop. Fortunately, the situation was manageable and all equipment was saved,” said Principal Rashmi Vij.

She noted that although online classes were already in progress, attendance dropped today due to power outages in many areas. “Several students could not charge their devices, including phones, which created obstacles in attending online classes,” she said. She assured that the school will make adjustments to accommodate affected students. “We will repeat the lectures conducted today for those who couldn’t attend. We hope this crisis subsides soon so that regular classes can resume and mid-term exams can commence as planned from September 15,” she added.