Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 27: Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has urged the state government to reopen the schools, duly taking necessary precautions and safety measures relating to the coronavirus pandemic at the earliest. The commission has expressed the apprehension that the COVID-19 situation may give rise to large number of child marriages, child labour, atrocities on children, exploitation and use of children's services for household work.
The commission has made several recommendations to the department of primary and secondary education on the issues of online classes and reopening of schools. It has expressed the worry that if the situation of schools not functioning continues for long, there will be an increase in the school dropouts.
It said that right for pre-primary, till fifth standard, mass media like radio and television should be used instead of online education. It has recommended a maximum of 90 minutes classes for children studying from sixth to eighth standards, two and half hours for 9th and 10th standard students, and three hours for 11th to 12th classes. It wants the government to strictly enforce the rule to make sure that this maximum online education limit is not exceeded.
"Longer online education can have negative effects on mental and physical health of the children. It will also create a divide between children from urban and rural areas. Therefore, online education can never be an alternative to live classes," the commission has observed.
It has suggested that in schools where shortage of space is being experienced, as per the guidelines of human resources development ministry, class-wise schools can be opened. It said that schools should first be opened in green zones. When red zones finally change into yellow and green zones, protection of children and safety measures should be carefully managed, it has been recommended