Online attendance average 70% in urban Maha, below 50% in rural

Nagpur: An overwhelming majority of both aided and unaided schools in Maharashtra are witnessing average 70% attendance in online classes. Various associations representing schools and principals told TOI that in rural areas, this figure drops below 50%. They attribute this to lack smartphones and computers at homes of kids coming from lower income groups.
Independent English Schools Association (IESA), a pan-Maharashtra group which represents unaided private schools, says a trend of attendance dropping gradually is being witnessed. Rajendra Dayma, president of IESA, said, “This is something which we are witnessing across the state. Attendance is touching 70% at the most and there is now a decline, which is clearly visible. Our members in rural areas are hardly touching the 50% attendance mark.”
According to School Headmasters Charitable Association (SHCA), aided schools are faring worse. Dilip Bose, a senior principal and office-bearer of SHCA, said, “The average is 50% here and that too in urban areas. In rural schools, you would be lucky to touch 30%.” He clarified that among private aided schools of English medium, attendance figures were seen touching 80% in some. “But that’s just a handful of schools. In vernacular schools, there is a constant struggle to get the attendance figures up,” said Bose.
Ravindra Fadnavis’s Shikshan Sanstha Mahamandal is an association of trusts which manages schools across Maharashtra. “Problem is lack of infrastructure to access online education because of affordability issues. Now that parents have started working, mobile phones go with them, leaving the child stuck. Even accessing recorded videos later becomes a challenge as many can’t afford data packs,” said Fadnavis, who has tied up with a social organization to arrange smartphones/tablets for his students.
Madhusudhan Mude, president of Headmasters Association (HA), said this is a problem which can be solved through social partnerships or by children learning through government-run channels. “On Doordarshan, there are channels which broadcast tutorials according to state board curriculum. Also, the education department has tied up with a private mobile operator to broadcast the same through their inbuilt app. This academic year will require out-of-the-box thinking to take education ahead,” said Mude.
With physical school reopening not happening till at least November, reliance on online classes will continue. Dayma said, “We worry about the those poor children who are being deprived of education. Unfortunately, there is no easy way out, as of now.”