" Virtual Classes" through Doordarshan make inroads into each and every house.
Teachers interact with 8 lakh parents to get their feedback during virtual PTM
Rajnish Sareen
Nawanshahr, June 07 , 2020: The outbreak of pandemic COVID-19 has been forcing the 19000 government schools to remain closed for the past more than two month, thus affecting over 25 lakh students in Punjab. Since the imposition of Lock down, the state education department has been striving hard to to enable the students to continue learning by adopting alternative methods. Under the " Ghar Baithe Sikhyia" programme, a comprehensive well planned strategy was devised to hold virtual classes for the students as per the prescribed syllabus. The virtual classes through various mediums including DD Punjabi, Swayam Prabha, All India Rasdio, Chan Pardesi, Doaba Radio channels etc. Besides, teachers across the state have been keeping their students occupied with their studies as per planned schedule via social media tools like Whats App, You Tube and Face Book etc. Simultaneously, the teachers have regularly been interacting with the students through phone calls, providing support and ensuring learning continues.
The "Ghar Baithe Sikhiya Programme" of the education department has started accruing tremendous applause from the parents. The fact surfaced during the recently conducted mega exercise of holding " Virtual PTM" by the Education Department. Under it, about 60000 school teachers belonging to 6000 govt. Schools (Secondary Section) made phone calls to parents of 8 lakh students belonging to class 6th to 12th to seek their feedback regarding the efficacy of the programme. The challenges being faced by the parents to keep their wards occupied with their regular study as well as their suggestions to make it more effective.
"The uncertainty around the future is an added worry to most of the parents. However, discussing these challenges with the teachers provided relief to many parents, who felt that their child’s school is interested in the well being of thetheir children during such a difficult time" said Chanchal, Science Mistress, GSSS, Daulatpur ( Nawanshahr ) , while sharing her experiences of interaction with the parents during the Virtual PTM .
‘She sits in front of the TV every day and works on her assignments. I am happy her study is continuing.’ shared Sunita , a parent from Ludhiana about the routine of her daughter , a student of class 10th. The Virtual PTM gave female family members the opportunity to participate, who otherwise were sometimes not able to attend the PTMs organised in schools, she further added.
‘I spoke to the parents of the students of my school , who were quite happy to know that the school is taking pains to keep the study of their children regular even during difficult times’ shared Balkaran Kaur from GSSS Kauli (Patiala) and Meenakshi Aggarwal, from GSSS Ayali Khurd ( Ludhiana ) .
" The phone calls made during the PTM gave teachers the opportunity to have detailed conversations with the parents. The government schools are an integral institution of each community, and the Virtual PTM has paved the way for strengthening ties between the community and the school. The pandemic has made it imperative for the schools and parents to work together as one unit to ensure the well being of the children and tide over the difficult time, and the Virtual PTM has created a platform to facilitate just that", said Amarjit Khatkar, Principal, GSSS, Mukandpur( SBS Nagar)
The most of the parents have expressed their satisfaction over the " Ghar Baithe Sikhyia Programme" and lauded the commendable efforts being made by the government school teachers, says Parampreet Singh, a teacher from GSSSS Amloh (Fatehgarh Sahib)
Besides contacting parents on phone , I have also personally visited the houses of some students to have feedback regarding the programme from the ground Zero. The students and their parents are quite happy with the dedicated efforts of the teachers, said Ranjit Singh, Principal, GSSS, Behloor Kalan, while adding that he had even prepared short videos while interacting with the parents and students for sharing in the social media for mobilising the masses to avail the benefit of the distinctive features of the government schools.
"There are technical problems in disseminating education via smart phones as affordability of smart phones as well as internet access has its own limitations, which in certain cases, have been hindering the child’s participation in online classes. But, with the start of virtual classes through DD Punjabi, the students have got the easy access to the facility", said Naveen Gulati, Headmaster, GHS, Garcha( SBS Nagar) and Rajesh Kumar, Principal, GSSS, Musapur , while terming the "Ghar Biathe Sikhiya" programme through DD Punjabi , an instant hit.
" Not only the students of the government schools but also those studying in private schools have also been availing of the facility", they further said while adding that it had a very good impact on the public. Impressed by the efforts of the Education Department to provide such facilities during the Lock Down. Some parents , whose children were studying in private schools, had approached them and got their wards admitted in their respective government schools they added.