Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad asks schools to prepare a Learn From Home program

A nationwide lockdown is in place amid the coronavirus pandemic. All the schools, colleges, workplaces have been shut down as a part of this 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. There are reports that suggest that the schools may not open till May 15, hence for that time students may have to resort only to online classes. 

To make sure that the curriculum for school students is completed despite the lockdown, State Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad held an online meeting with the top education officials of Maharashtra. The meeting discussed points on how despite the lockdown, learning can be imparted. 

During the meeting, Gaikwad directed the officials to find out ways to complete the curriculum from home by preparing a 'Learn From Home' program.

The virtual meeting was attended by Vandana Krishna IAS, Additional Chief Secretary-School Education & Sports, Vishal Solanki, Education Commissioner, Dinkar Patil, Director of Education Department, among other top officials of the state.  

Gaikwad said that the syllabus should be provided to the students via television and radio. Accordingly, she asked the officials to come up with a Daily Education Scheme. She further added that the e-content designed for educational work should be delivered jointly by Balabharti and SCERT.

Vandana Krishna IAS displayed how students could be taught online via applications on a smartphone. The officials also noted that the teachers and students had joined a WhatsApp group where the educational material was being shared.

Alongside, instructions were given in the meeting for taking the appropriate course of action, in accordance with the new subsidy guidelines to non-subsidised schools.

Meanwhile, various examinations across Maharashtra have either been postponed or have been cancelled. The MPSC examinations which were rescheduled for April 26 have been postponed again. the public universities will be holding their summer exams for 2020 after the lockdown is over. 

On the other hand, the exams for CBSE schools and junior colleges barring Class X and XII have been cancelled. CBSE announced that all the students in classes I to VIII will be promoted to the next class without any examination whereas all the students in class IX and XI will be promoted on the basis of their school-based assessments, projects, and periodic tests held before schools were shut.