Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 29: Even before the committee of experts formed to frame guidelines on teaching the school children through online classes came out with its report, the state government has asked the concerned to fall in line with the guidelines of the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) for the time being.

As per the guideline, for the students of pre-primary classes, online communication and guidance can be provided one day in a week for 30 minutes with the parents. The education department has formed a committee of experts to create guidelines as there are many complaints about several schools from the state following unscientific ways of online teaching. In the meanwhile, the high court has advised the government to allow for limited period online education. The MHRD has said that this is subject to the discretion of the states depending on the prevailing situation. The state government now wants this guideline to be followed.

This new guideline, the government has clearly stated, will be applicable till the experts committee appointed by the state government submits its report and its guidelines are released. The government has also said that online education is being provided to supplement regular education. Therefore, it has asked the schools not to charge any additional fee for this service. It has told the schools in no uncertain terms that the expenses involved should be borne out of the annual tuition fee that is charged to the students.

As per the new guideline, online classes can be undertaken as follows:

1. For pre-primary classes: 30 minute session once a week

2. Class 1 to 5: 30 to 45 minutes every alternate days

3. Class 6 to 8: 30 to 45 minutes - two sessions per day for five days a week

4. Class 9 and 10: 30 to 45 minutes - four sessions a day for five days a week