Schools plan Sat classes, some shift online to make up for learning loss
Times of India | 28 August 2024
Kolkata: Back-to-back class disruptions have prompted school heads to find alternative routes to make up for learning losses in the exam season. Several schools that had suspended classes on Tuesday have been forced to do the same on Wednesday following the bandh call. Some of them said they will hold classes on Saturday while others have shifted online.Those that had exams on Tuesday or Wednesday have rescheduled them.
Some schools that were open on Tuesday saw low attendance. Trying to avoid a repeat, Vivekananda Mission and Modern High School for Girls have suspended classes on Wednesday.
Calcutta Girls has suspended classes and rescheduled exams, as has Don Bosco Park Circus. Gokhale Memorial School, which had shifted exams from Tuesday to Wednesday, has now shifted them to Aug 30. But it will stay open on Wednesday.
“We rescheduled exams slated for Tuesday; now, again, we have to reschedule Wednesday’s exams. It’s quite challenging to change exam routines every day,” said a principal.
Others, like La Martiniere (boys and girls), Assembly of God Church, G D Birla Centre for Education and Ashok Hall have shifted classes to the online mode. Schools in Howrah, including DPS Howrah, have declared a closure on Wednesday. Several principals complained that half of the week had been lost to holidays and disruptions. Schools were shut on Monday for Janmashtami.
Some private schools that were open saw few students turn up. Frank Anthony Public School was open but they dispersed early, at 11 am, after considering the thin attendance.
State-affiliated schools were open but attendance was below 50%. Hindu School headmaster Subhrajit Dutta said, “We have a sizeable number of students from Howrah who couldn’t come. The attendance was low as parents apprehended traffic disruptions. Heavy rainfall was another reason, I think. We conducted all classes and served mid-day meals.”
Bhawanipur Mitra Institution headmaster Raja Dey said, “No pool-car came on Tuesday. So, the few students who stay close by could come. We dispersed 30 minutes earlier than usual.” Taltala High School, which recorded a very low attendance, let off students after serving mid-day meals in anticipation of traffic disruption.