All UP government primary schools to give 40-minute remedial classes everyday

All primary and upper-primary schools run by the government in Uttar Pradesh will have a 40-minute ‘remedial class’ in the first period, which will be an endeavour to solidify basic concepts and clear any doubts students may have.

This move is expected to help 12.8 million students studying in more than 108,000 primary and 50,000 upper primary schools spread across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

Also Read: UP Board Slashes Syllabus of Classes IX to XII by up to 30%

This step is different from an earlier plan to give separate classes to ‘weak students’, as that was deemed to be against the concept of ‘inclusive education’ that the schools were aiming at.

The concept of remedial classes is in line with the state Chief Minister’s Mission Prerna, which was launched on 5 September 2019. The programme was aimed at fortifying the basic knowledge and foundational learning skills of students studying in classes 1 to 8 in government-run schools across the state.

Also Read: UP Board Compartment Dates for Class 12 yet to be Released

According to aptitude tests given in these schools in February 2020, a large number of students were found lacking in basic knowledge. Hence the decision to hold ‘remedial classes’, as a part of which 550,000 assistant teachers, shiksha mitras and part-time subject instructors are being trained through an online course from 20 July to 14 August.

The training mission is being supervised by the State Project Office of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan at Lucknow and Allahabad-based State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT).

The objective of these trained teachers would be to ensure a set parameter of minimum learning achievement from the students.

It is expected that holding the remedial classes in the first period will expedite the process of clearing doubts, as students will be fresh and eager.

SIEMAT has already trained 4,000 trainers online from 6 to 17 July 2020.