Mangaluru: Teachers thrilled with new normal of fewer students

MANGALURU: Teachers from both private and government schools say the norm of having fewer students in classrooms to ensure safe distancing has been a blessing since it gives them time to focus on each student individually.
In Dakshina Kannada, overall school attendance has now crossed 80% and focus in most schools has been on SSLC students, who will take board exams in June.
Prior to the pandemic, each class had about 60 students and teachers found it difficult to cater to the needs of each student. However, the pandemic has shrunk classrooms since students are divided into batches. This also means a teacher has to take the same lessons for multiple batches.
“Earlier, each class had an average 60-70 students and it was difficult to handle. Now, with only 20 students, it’s much easier and also feels rewarding. Besides, there is no yelling and shouting. Classes are much calmer than before,” a private school teacher said, adding that focus is on Class X students.
Malleswamy, DDPI of Dakshina Kannada, said attendance in high schools has crossed 80% as on January 6. There are no cases of infection among students, teachers or non-teaching staff in the district, he said.
Campus scenes
A headmistress of an aided school said students have completely forgotten basic lessons and they have had to start afresh. “Also, students have lost concentration power and their response to academics is low. It will take some ime for them to get back to normal,” the headmistress said, adding that schools are in utter confusion over the syllabus. “We have not received any information about the syllabus reduction for classes 6 to 10. The government must take a quick decision.”
Officials from the department of public instruction, who have toured schools across the district, said schoolchildren are more than happy to be back on campus. “They say they are unable to concentrate or grasp lessons, but they prefer regular classes to online classes,” they said.