Education sector undergoes a sea change this year

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 23

Year 2021, brought many surprises, both good and bad, for students. On the one hand cancellation of board exams came as a sigh of relief for lakhs of students and their parents, one the other hand switching to online classes brought unprecedented challenges for them.

Nearly two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, students were affected by partial or full school closures, which took toll on the physical as well as mental well-being of students and teachers. Though exams were conducted offline in majority of the city schools, students were made to study online. Besides, the students appearing of board classes of major boards — Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Punjab School of Education Board (PSEB) — have to appear for twice for the exams in November/December and February/March, which is altogether a difference experience for students as well as for the teachers.

No board exams for Classes X, XII

For the first time, the board exams of Classes X and XII got cancelled due to Covid spread. The decision received mixed response from students as well as parents. While the intelligent students maintained that their percentage suffered as they were expecting high percentage, other students were elated with the decision. Even many parents looked unsatisfied as they felt that students were neglecting their studies.

Focus of government schools on enrolment

As the classes were mostly conducted online, parents asked the private schools to either waive the extra expenses, else they will not pay the fee. As a result, parents started to enrol their wards in public schools. Government schools also lapped up the opportunity and focused on enrolling maximum new students. While in Ludhiana alone, 12,071 new students were enrolled from private schools, approximately 46.73 per cent. The total number of students in primary schools is 25,834. Similarly, in secondary classes, 13,763 students switched over to government schools with amounts to approximately 53 per cent.

Govt schools enrolment hike claims fall flat

While the records of the government schools showed exemplary increase in the number of students, many teachers in government schools alleged that this enrolment was just on papers. At many schools it was found that there were less students as claimed by government schools as classes were held online.

Students appear twice for board exams

This time, the students are to appear for board exams in two terms. The first term was held in November/December for classes X and XII while second term will be held anywhere in February/March. Mixed response of students was witnessed over the new pattern.

Several teachers succumb to virus

The government as well as private schools reported fresh cases of Covid due to which panic gripped city residents. Parents and teachers condemned government and private school managements for starting offline classes. Many private schools even switched over to offline classes for small children. Several teachers lost lives in the second wave of Covid-19, last year.

Parents protest against fee hike

When many school managements went strict with parents to deposit school fees, protests were held outside several private schools. The parents wanted schools to waive or decrease the fee while schools had expressed helplessness as their overheads remained the same.

Online functions, events in schools

Last year, most of the events were held online for the students amid the Covid crisis. The major celebrations of Gurpurab, Holi, Janmashtmi, fancy dress competitions and other events were celebrated virtually in schools.

Major achievements

• Innovative science labs and smart art and craft rooms were set up in many govt schools.
• NRIs from USA and Canada contributed in lakhs to build whole new building of Government Middle School, Barmalipur (near Doraha).
• English booster clubs flourished in government schools in district.
• In many government schools, smart playgrounds came up.
• 259 schools in district were announced to be upgraded.
• ‘Library langars’ set new records.
• There were thousands of Facebook likes on activity pages.
• The NAS preparations were in full swings in both private and government schools and tests were conducted in November.
• A new revolution was witnessed as students took exams on Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets.

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