3.50 lakh school students in Punjab sitting idle at home with no academic activity

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 23

More than 3.50 lakh students of private schools of Punjab are sitting idle at their homes, without any academic activity at their hands, during the ongoing times of COVID 19.

Students studying in schools, of this category, are not linked with the online classes being organised for government schools. They have also not started any independent online classes like many other private schools. Closed buildings, of this category schools, are spread in different districts all over the state. Besides no education for students, teachers here, too, have not been paid their salaries in several cases.

The state has approximately 40 lakh school students out of which at least 25.78 lakh are enrolled in government schools. Director of a programme for government schools said “We don’t have the exact number of private schools that are closed, however, it will not be wrong to say that at least 25 per cent of the more than 14 lakh students studying in private schools are sitting at their homes without any online classes”.

Replying to the question of students not having any classes, Secretary (School Education) Krishan Kumar said “Government schools are connected with the NCERT, Doordarshan and many other online portals. These are also available for private school students if they wanted to study. I agree to the fact that students of private schools cannot be evaluated for their classroom work like it was being done in government schools to assess their understanding of the lessons before moving ahead”.

Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said “The current situation has led to conditions of a few students missing teaching absolutely but it is beyond our control. At the same time students and parents who are interested in education will definitely find a way to stay connected. We will definitely work out ways to compensate them, for their study loss once when the COVID scare ends”.

 A senior department official said “Students wishing to take online classes have to just apply online on our website. We will ensure they are compensated for their missed classes”.

A government school teacher said “If the current situation continues then children in the schools, not taking any classes, will stand to lose a full academic year. Department needs to take a call on the situation immediately”.

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