Bhubaneswar: City-based civil society groups have urged the Odisha government to take cue from Chhattisgarh in providing education to children who are not able to attend online classes due to lack of digital resources. They have asked the Odisha government to bring a similar alternative model of education to bring a large chunk of children living in remote rural areas under the umbrella of education.
As per reports recently, the Education Minister in Chhattisgarh, Premsai Singh Temak has informed that the government is planning to introduce ‘Loudspeaker Schools’ and ‘Bultu Ke Bol’ initiatives to teach rural children amid lockdown with the help of teachers and other communities in the state. The minister said that children, especially from rural areas, who depend on the state-run education system for their studies, will benefit from these projects. It will also help children from poor and marginalised communities and especially those who live in remote areas and hilly terrain where basic amenities like electricity and internet connectivity are not available.
“The retention of learning for these children is important as they have almost been out of education for more than four months. This will help these children with their learning,” said Anjan Pradhan a social activist and Convener, Odisha Shramajeebee Manch.
According to a report of the Odisha government, out of a total 67,128 government elementary schools in the state, only 27.68% have initiated online education so far. The report also revealed that only 31.95 per cent of children attend online classes through smartphones. Therefore, the government must make alternative measures to ensure that these children are not losing out on their education, informed Ruchi Kashyap, of Atmashakti Trust.
PNN