Kerala State Education Department conducts online classes for Economically Weak and Backward students

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the Kerala State Education Department has strted giving online lessons for the Economically Weak and Backward Students at libraries and Anganwadis in the state.

The Assistant Education Officer has stated that this year it has been impossible to open the schools but the state government has devised a new technique of online learning. The state government on June 1, 2020 introduced a trial run of online learning for the students.

Students belonging to the poor and backward communities come to such centres because of the unavailability of smartphones.

One of the teachers from Maruthonkara in Kozhikode while speaking about the online classes conducted said that classrooms in Maruthonkara of Kozhikode for the tribal students encompass a laptop, projector, and screens provided by the Maruthonkara Grama Panchayath.

Classes are being carried out through the educational channel - Victers via education department that is the first-ever educational satellite television channel in India.

The lessons are given from 10 AM to 5 PM for the students of different classes for which a time table is also provided. Students from the ‘Kaattunayka’ tribe also attend the online classes based on the class schedule.

The online classes are being held with the help of the state board as a way to make up for the loss of classes caused due to COVID-19 lockdown in the state. The schools in the state have been shut since March 2020 when COVID-19 cases started increasing across the country.

The final examinations for the students along with classes 10 and 12 board examinations have been cancelled or postponed.