Nagpur: About 1/3 School students in Maharashtra cannot attend online classes, according to surveys by UNICEF and the State Education Department.
The challenge of access to digital learning infrastructure like that is one reason why the government is also interested in the reopening of the school.
Rajeshwari Chandrasekar, Head of Unicef ​​Field Office (Maharashtra) said, “Despite the best efforts of each stakeholder, 1/3 students cannot learn through online class.
This prolonged school closure has been detrimental to students.
Therefore, we always state that The school must be the last to be closed and first opened.
“Chandrasekhar, who has been with UNICEF for almost 25 years, said this survey in Maharashtra was carried out in November.
“Learning loss is what we all realize now, but there is a greater problem that the world faces what skills can be achieved by these students.
In financial terms, losses for the world economy will be more than one trillion dollars in the near future Because school closure will cause acquisition of sub-optimal skills among students, “he said.
For those who are 1/3-to-3 who really have come out of academic radar, Chandrasykar feels a lot of time and effort must be put in par.
“Let’s take an example of a student who should enter STD I in 2020.
He has spent that year, then one more in 2021.
Going directly to the third year of school without ever being in the physical class is a difficult transition.
So, approach For each child must be different and plenty of time will enter it, “Chandrasekar said.
Maharashtra Rajya Shiskhan SanStha MahasangH, an association that represents educational confidence, agrees with UNICEF’s findings.
Ravindra Fadnavis, an executive member of the Association said, “I believe the amount must be higher.
It can be half of students if it’s no more.
In our own city schools students struggle to access smartphones for classes, because the family only has one.
Those who get The handset, through NGOs etc., was unable to recharge.
“In the future, UNICEF feels the hybrid school model is here to stay.
“We have to think in the terms now.
Management and parents need to find a way to keep the hybrid model go where children learn three days in offline and stay online or vice versa,” he said.
Currently in Maharashtra, schools from STD I-XII have been allowed to reopen.
The previous plan was to keep everything closed until February 15 but due to increasing pressure from the school, permission to be reopened on January 20.