Hold assembly session first before reopening schools in Goa: Parents

PANAJI: The parents’ organisation, FORCE, has objected to the state government’s plans to reopen schools in Goa. Taking a dig at members of the legislative assembly, convener Savio Lopes said the state government should first conduct a full-fledged assembly session before planning to reopen schools.
Allowing students back on school premises doesn’t look like a good idea at this point in time as Covid cases are yet to show a dip in the state, Lopes said. “Plans to reopen schools for Class X and XII students first is fine, but proper SOPs need to be put in place first,” he said.
Lopes also said that online teaching methods being used by schools need to be streamlined immediately as some are trying to impose a timetable for online classes like the one used for regular schooling.
“Online classes are a mess. There is no proper application of mind in the way they are conducted. Students are burdened by holding online sessions for subjects like physical education and craft. Schools should concentrate on teaching mathematics and science concepts properly first,” the FORCE convener said.
He said this is forcing even children of a very young age to remain glued to smartphones and laptops to attend online sessions, which can be harmful for them.
Lopes called for uniformity in the manner in which online classes are delivered.
“Homework sent by some schools simply asks students to copy the notes sent by WhatsApp. What are the education ministry and department doing?” he said.
FORCE came into prominence after 2011, during protests over the issue of medium of instruction at the primary school level. The organisation of parents from across Goa was fighting for grants to be continued to government-aided schools that switched their medium of instruction to English from Konkani and Marathi in 2011.