Chaos as classes set to go live online in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Messages from schools asking parents to confirm their presence along with their children during live online classes planned for primary class students from June 1 have come as a shocker to many, especially working parents. By the time many parents doubly confirmed that schools are indeed planning live online classes from pre-KG to Plus Two, gadget shops in most of the cities had gone dry.
The unique situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic has left parents, teachers and private school managements in confusion and quandary over the next alternative choice till schools open again for regular studies. While most schools have decided to use the service of Google and Microsoft platforms, available for free, some have gone for custom-made software services for conducting online classes. But in all cases, the online classes are being handled from the school’s perspective only, with students and parents forced to follow instructions.
“It’s not that we are forcing anything on students or their parents. Give us an alternative to online classes we can currently rely on?” asked the representative of a leading educational trust which runs multiple schools under different boards. According to him, the management was willing to make changes as per demand of parents once the live online classes begins for lower classes from June 1. According to the chairman of another school in the city, his school has developed an in-house software solution, using which they have already started conducting live online classes. “In my experience, parents are very enthusiastic and are willing to find time to spend with children during live classes. It also puts into test the quality of faculties when parents also watch them. Of course, the live online modules planned for primary classes are of short duration,” he said.
The state government has already announced its plans to start classes on June 1. This would be through broadcasting of classes on Victers television channel. “The fad for live online classes has no advantage over the recorded ones. Instead, schools should ensure that a student can access the recorded classes at his/her own convince,” said K Anvar Sadath, CEO of Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE).
According to gadget sellers here, the demand for smart phones and tablets under Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 has risen substantially, following announcement of online classes. Same is the case with laptops in Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 bracket. “Most shops have run out of basic smart phones, tabs and low configuration laptops. So is the case with web cams. Since production has come down owing to the pandemic, it’s impossible to meet the sudden spike in demand,” they said.