Zilla Parishad-run schools take classes on WhatsApp

Efforts are also on both at district and state levels to evaluate its success, quality

In the face of the protracted lockdown, Zilla Parishads (ZPs) across the state have kicked off virtual classrooms for students enrolled in their schools. To underscore that it means business, the Pune district administration has also started closely monitoring the conduct of these classes.

The process has deployed WhatsApp to reach the students, offering personalised videos, wherein the material are made available on the mobile phones. A follow-up on the effectiveness of the initiative done by Pune ZP has shown that 60-70 per cent of the students in its jurisdiction have been accessing the virtual learning. “Pursuant to starting the classes, we asked each school to send each day’s data on the sessions taken and how many students were in attendance, to understand the reach being attained,” said Sunil Kurhade, the ZP education officer.

Even as it is figuring out ways to improve the reach, Indapur zone has already begun conducting online tests and evaluations. With 117 schools participating in these virtual classrooms, about 1.34 lakh students out of the total 1.92 lakh students enrolled have come into the process. “The students have taken to these virtual classrooms and parents are also getting involved. The students are responding to the tasks given over WhatsApp,” Kurhade pointed out.


As for the remaining student who are facing network issues or do not have access to mobile phones, efforts are on to address their academic needs. Similarly, for areas where internet facilities are not available, the exercise to sustain the academics is being designed.

Meanwhile, the Pune ZP teachers are also participating in a statewide survey on evaluating the success of the virtual classes. “The survey focusses on how students are coping with the changed mode of education and parents’ participation. The survey will also give us a fair idea on the loopholes, if any,” explained Bhau Chaskar, ZP teacher. The survey is expected to also guide any course correction that may be needed to be made in the conduct of the virtual classrooms.