In a bid to evolve a level playing field between the children in government and private schooling as online education is emerging as an inevitable norm, the Madras High Court on Monday directed the authorities to inform all private schools and parents associations through media about cases filed against online classes so as to enable them offer their response.
Chennai:
Allowing petitions filed on behalf of parents’ association and private schools, a division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha posted the plea for full-fledged hearing of all stakeholders on August 19.
During the hearing, the bench observed that holding classes online might lead to lack of uniformity, especially with government school students bound to be at a disadvantage due to lack of devices and connectivity.
However, the bench refused to restrict holding online cases to just two hours a day until the disposal of the plea, saying such an order could not be passed without hearing the private schools. Justice Hemalatha observed that overenthusiastic parents were subjecting children to online classes, even making them learn karate and other extracurricular activities. She also wondered how tests were being conducted online.
Counsels appearing in the case contended that the guidelines issued by the State was merely advisory in nature and hence could be implemented. One counsel suggested education through TV channels while another suggested pre-recorded classes to ensure that there was no intervention from outsiders or pop-ups.
As per the guidelines, students of Classes 1-8 would have not more than two sessions a day while
students of Classes 9-12 would not have more than four sessions of 30 to 45 minutes each. For pre-primary classes, online sessions of not more than 30 minutes are allowed.