Panaji: The Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has directed the state government that teaching and non-teaching staff should be allowed to work from home, as also online/ distance learning should be permitted and encouraged for the school students in the state.

A recent communication from the department of school education and literacy of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, to the state Chief Secretary states, “The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued guidelines on Unlock 2, whereby it has been directed that schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will remain closed till July 31, 2020.”

“It has been further stated that online/ distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged. Accordingly, for this purpose essential teaching/ non-teaching staff or research scholars, etc should continue to work from home and as far as possible they should not be called to the schools/ colleges/ institutions,” the communiqué maintains, further directing, “You are requested to ensure compliance and strict implementation of these guidelines on closure of schools and colleges, and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation,”

Meanwhile, president of the Higher Secondary Teachers’ Association of Goa, Anant Pissurlekar, addressing a press conference stated that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in contravention to this communication from the Centre, had stated that online education is not compulsory for the school students.

“After this statement, the school students, who were following the online education dedicatedly, started neglecting the same,” he said, pointing out that the teachers were also unnecessarily asked to attend the schools, which had neither students nor network.

Pissurlekar also alleged that the above government decision has caused mental stress to the students as well as teachers.