Vidyagama essential to keep children connected to school

Dharwad: With uncertainty over reopening of schools continuing, Vidyagama scheme introduced by the government will go a long way in keeping children connected to the school and the learning process, said primary and secondary education minister Suresh Kumar.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, he said the Centre has issued fresh guidelines allowing reopening of schools for classes 9-12 subject to several conditions and the guidelines for commencing physical classes for classes 1-8 are yet to come. There is no clear idea about when the schools will reopen. Under such circumstance keeping children away from schools and learning activities will result in many students dropping out and losing interest in studies. Once that happens, it will be difficult to bring such students back to the mainstream Kumar said and added that Vidyagama project has been introduced to keep students and teachers connected.
Under the programme, instead of students coming to the school, the teachers visit localities where students live and teach them. The teachers need to be congratulated because they have been sincere in implementing the programme effectively, the minister said.
He said some people have suggested that the children should be called to the school ground and taught there. But this cannot be done during the pandemic as the students have difficulty in reaching the school as they expose themselves to the risk of catching the virus.
He lauded the teachers who successfully conducted SSLC and II PU examinations.