E-classes take toll on kids’ health

JAIPUR: Parents in the city are opposing online classes for primary schoolchildren as long screen time is affecting their health. According to many parents, students in the age group of 4-10 are spending 3-5 hours online.
Arunabh Dubey, whose daughter is studying in Class 1 and spending four hours daily on screen for classes, said, “We have received a time table from the school authorities that includes a virtual assembly of ten minutes. What is the need for a class 1 student to attend four hours of online classes? The increase in screen time and concentration of the child are serious issues that we are facing right now,” Dubey said.
Unlike Maharashtra where virtual classes are banned till class II and Karnataka, where the government has banned online classes till class V, no such step has been taken in Rajasthan till now. Maharashtra has even released guidelines for virtual classes.
Another parent, Akash Saini, refused to let his son in kindergarten take online classes after he complained of headache. “We started with online classes, but my son started having red eyes and headache. I received many calls from the school to start online sessions again, but I refused. Moreover, the speed at which teachers are completing the syllabus is not the same as earlier. They have completed double the syllabus which I think is a justification to demand fees,” Saini said. Parents are demanding that if not total ban, at least there should be a regulation over such online classes. An official of education department said there is no such plan by the government, but discussions are on to take a final call.
An important question that arises is about the alternative to online classes. Education expert K B Kothari, commenting on other states banning online classes, said this is too extreme.
“At the time of pandemic, online classes should be used creatively for primary sections. Instead of just sticking to old school methods of chapter-wise teaching, there is a need to introduce creative ways to make children learn. Banning online classes is an extreme step. There should be a middle way.”