During the COVID 19 Lockdown , schools and educational institutes were shut down as part of mitigation efforts to reduce transmission of COVID 19. The health of the individuals was the topmost priority and is the real concern to date. Keeping health in mind and with an aim to cover the education gap, a new era of online education started off in schools and educational institutes.
Department of Education, Rajasthan started up many innovative and noteworthy e-initiatives which helped in creating ‘no learning gap’ for the students across the state. Learning initiatives like ‘Aao Ghar Mein Seekhein’, ‘eKaksha’, ‘Smile’, ‘Samarth’, helped the children studying in Government schools in continuing their education through online school classes.From time to time, there was distribution of textbooks and reading material for the students.
But past few months, the cases of Corona have gone down drastically leading to the lifting up of the lockdown across the state. As things were gradually coming back on track, the state government decided to open schools and educational institutes for the student of standard 9 to 12. This decision was pleasingly welcomed by the students, parents, teachers and other staff members. The stagnant and dull life of the students once again bloomed in the light of the reopening of schools.
On 1st September 2021, the schools were once again opened with happy and cheerful faces entering the school premises with a dash of excitement and enthusiasm. This big decision of reopening of schools was taken by the state government keeping in mind the essential measures to ensure students, teachers and other staff are safe when they return back to the school premises by issuing strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) regarding the same. As per rules, schools have reopened with 50 percent capacity and are strictly following social distancing norms. All the teaching and non-teaching staff are fully vaccinated or have at least the first dose of vaccination.Drivers and others providing transport facilities to teaching and non-teaching staff of schools are vaccinated with at least the first dose of vaccine.
The schools are once again full of noise, hustle in corridors, and lunch break bells. There is a regular check of the temperature, sanitization facility at the entrance gate, transportation vehicles been sanitized and usage of masks within the premises. Now there is a gap of half an hour in the lunch hours which will help in following social distancing norms at its best apart from this, the students are now sitting in the classrooms which are fully ventilated. Students are following social distancing norms and covidprotocol and they are now having their lunch in an open and ventilated space. Keeping social distancing in mind, no assembly meet and sports activities are allowed at present. Parents will now have to give it in writing to permit their students to go to the school.
Under the order of the Education Department, the online study material is been provided to the students who are not attending classes. Mr. Saurabh Swami, Director of Secondary Education Board of Rajasthan, has asked both private and government schools to follow strict SOPs in the schools. The course syllabus has been reduced by 30% due to lockdown in the state.
Past one year had been a challenging time for both students and teachers, in terms of course structure, nature of study pattern, curb of physical and other co-curricular activities, etc. Due to which there has been a slight hindrance in the growth and personality development of the students. Considering this, the schools have started focusing on this issue along with completing the course and learning on time.To cover up the syllabus and the gap of past year, the schools are coming up with various strategies and study patterns, so that the future of their students is not affected.
In the coming days and hopefully, in a more positive environment, there will be an increase in the attendance of the students in the schools. After the reopening of schools, there is big smile on the faces of students, who are feeling much more motivated, focused and fully boost up.
