HUBBALLI: The suspension of conventional classes owing to the pandemic has detracted considerably from the learning experience of students, and those studying SSLC are among those most affected by the prolonged closure of schools. Participating in online classes is often made difficult owing to poor network connectivity.
However, the department of public instruction in Dharwad has made all efforts to ensure that the students are absorbing the concepts thoroughly so as to ensure that they are not only well prepared to tackle the key examination but also to hold them in good stead when they enter pre-university.
Deputy director of public instruction, Dharwad Mohankumar Hanchate said that as many as 28,000 SSLC students, of whom 6,000 were from state-run institutions, were attending online classes in the district. “This is an extraordinary time, and we are ensuring all students grow familiar with the use of technology. Students are attending online classes daily, and teachers are making efforts to reach those who do not have smartphones. To this end, they have made arrangements so that students can attend online classes using their neighbours’ phones,” Hanchate told TOI.
In addition to live classes, students are also receiving recorded videos explaining key concepts, which they could learn as and when they wished to. “Students in Kalaghatagi and Dharwad taluks were facing trouble with connectivity, and we decided to distribute tablets with the whole of the academic year’s syllabus loaded into them,” said Hanchate, adding that many students called on teachers at schools to clarify any doubts they might have.
Hubballi rural block education officer (BEO) SM Hudedmani said that, students were sent links to recorded videos, and in case they missed online classes, they could watch them on YouTube.
Kalaghatagi BEO Umadevi B Basapur said that, given the taluk’s undulating topography, students facing trouble with internet connectivity was to be expected. “So, we distributed tablets containing videos of lessons of all subjects,” Umadevi said.