Bhubaneswar: As online teaching failed to reach all students due to poor internet connectivity in rural areas, the State Government has decided to reopen the schools for Class X and XII students from 26 July.
Speaking to reporters on virtual mode, School and Mass Education Principal Secretary Satyabrata Sahu said the online teaching is reaching to only 40 per cent of the total students while another 60 per cent still left behind.
Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the school’s students in the State have lost 150 days of classroom teaching. Therefore, the Government has decided to reopen both private and government-run schools for the Class X and XII students from July 26, Mr.Sahu said. However, schools will continue with online teaching for all classes including Classes X and XII, he said.
The classes will be held from 10.00 am to 1.30 pm for the students without recess hour. The schools will remain closed on all Sundays and all holidays, he said.
However, the schools which will be used as examination centre, will be reopened in later stage after completion of the tests, he further said.
The district collectors have been empowered to take a final call on reopening of schools after reviewing the Covid situation in their concerned districts.
The government will issue a detailed SOP for resumption of the classes in adherence of the Covid-19 guidelines. However, it is not mandatory for all students. Those who wish to attend the classes physically can attend the schools, the secretary said.
Moreover, Mr.Sahu said, the state government is also planning to reopen the schools for Class IX and XI students from August 16 and September 15, respectively.
The classes for Class XI students will be held from September 15 after completion of admission into Plus II courses, he further informed.
Keeping the prevailing pandemic situation in mind, the Odisha government has also decided to adopt a continuous and comprehensive evaluation process so that the evaluation can be done throughout the academic year, he said, adding, this year, there will be four formative assessments and two summative assessments.
Mr.Sahu appealed all students to give importance to all tests conducted by the schools. The Board of Secondary Education (BSE) has been asked to prepare question papers for all tests of Class IX and X, he stated.
Speaking on matriculation examination, the Principal Secretary said the annual High School Certificate (HSC) examination was cancelled due to the Covid-19 and accordingly, alternative methodology has been adopted to award marks to the Class X students. Those, who are dissatisfied with the process, have been allowed to appear for the offline test.
In this process, only 2244 students (0.39%) have filled up forms for the offline test. It means about 99% students are satisfied with the marks awarded to them, he informed.
All arrangements have been made for smooth conduct of the offline test of these students, he added.