'Virtual classrooms' engage Himachal Pradesh students

SHIMLA: Amid lockdown announced to fight coronavirus, "digital class rooms" are keeping students busy in their homes. Besides the apps of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), WhatsApp groups are also used to keep students engaged. Not only private schools, even government-run schools are teaching students with the help of digital learning platforms.
Manjeet Negi, a resident of Shimla, said with schools closed she was worried about the studies of her nephew but since the class teachers have started teaching through WhatsApp groups, she was relieved.
"Coronavirus had left us scared about the safety of children, especially those going to schools and when schools were closed we were worried about studies being suffering because of it, but now digital learning is coming handy," she added.
Ram Dev Thakur, another resident, said his son is a student of Class VIII in a public school and since schools were closed, he was concerned about the studies of his son. "But I was quite surprised when his class teacher formed the WhatsApp group and started taking classes regularly as well as provided assignments and other learning materials. Now, I feel that the school has come home with the help of digital platform," he added.
"Teachers are giving lectures to students with the help of videos so it is like regular school. We are thankful that teachers and schools are making optimum use of technology to ensure students do not suffer due to lockdown," said Ashutosh Chauhan.
To ensure that studies of students of government schools do not suffer during the lockdown period, the directorate of higher education has issued instructions to the principals of all the colleges and schools to promote digital learning so that students can continue their learning by making full use of digital or e-learning platforms during the period of closure of educational institutions.
Additional director (higher education) Dr Rakesh Bhardwaj in a communication to schools and colleges sent on March 23 has provided the list of apps and websites provided by the Union ministry of human resource development from where students can collect the learning material.