This story is from June 2, 2020

Education logs on to online as schools, college remain shut

Education logs on to online as schools, college remain shut
A student attending an online class in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday
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Thiruvananthapuram: Amidst hope, scepticism and protest in almost equal measures, Kerala switched to remote learning mode on Monday.
As schools and colleges remained shut under the shadow of the pandemic, lakhs of students took the first lessons from their homes by watching the videos broadcast and live-streamed by schools and colleges.
Victers education television channel run by state government started broadcast of lessons with greetings by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
“We are passing through a very complex and arduous time. Regular classes are not desirable at this point of time. We will have to live with the virus for some more time. But at the same time, we need to take forward the education of our children. Online education cannot be an alternative to the traditional method of education. But, for the timebeing, we have to use new methods, at least until the trying times are over,” he said.
Higher education minister K T Jaleel opened the online classes for college students. As if to pacify the protests from teachers, the minister said the government has no plans to impose online education on anybody. “Government doesn’t want to thrust upon online education on students. Online classes can’t be an alternative to classroom transactions. There is no attempt to change the working time of colleges unilaterally. The proposal to conduct classes from 8.30am to 1.30pm was to help students. Such changes would be carried out only in consultation with all stakeholders,” he said.

After seeking the confidence of teachers and students, the minister donned the role of a history lecturer, an attire he hang-up 14 years ago. “History is a record of unique events in the life of mankind. In other words, it’s a barometer to record the progress of mankind,” said Jaleel as he swooped back into his old profession.
While students following state syllabus followed the lessons broadcast on Victers channel, students under CBSE, ICSE streams, majority of schools have arranged Live Online classes, using videoconferencing platforms offered by various service providers.
While online classes for primary classes lasted for a few minutes, for high school students it was more or less as per schedule. Most of the school authorities maintained that they are ready to make changes in the class schedule as it progresses.
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