‘Ecological civilisation, only way to prevent annihilation of life’
The Hindu
Experts air their views at seminar organised by MAHE Gandhian Centre of Philosophical Arts and Sciences
Ecological civilisation based on harmony between humans and nature was the only way forward if life on earth needs to be better and prevent its annihilation, was the essence that emerged at the two-day international conference on ‘Ecosophy, Art and Peace’, organised by Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, recently. The two days witnessed four special addresses, 45 paper presentations, a discussion on the contemporary issues and future alternatives. The sub-themes included ecological challenges, socio-economic issues, literature, cinema, gender studies, philosophy, and individual to international peace.Several principals of government and private schools in Delhi on Tuesday said the Directorate of Education (DoE) circular from a day earlier, directing schools to conduct classes in ‘hybrid’ mode, had caused confusion regarding day-to-day operations as they did not know how many students would return to school from Wednesday and how would teachers instruct in two modes — online and in person — at once. The DoE circular on Monday had also stated that the option to “exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians”. Several schoolteachers also expressed confusion regarding the DoE order. A government schoolteacher said he was unsure of how to cope with the resumption of physical classes, given that the order directing government offices to ensure that 50% of the employees work from home is still in place. On Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had, on the orders of the Supreme Court, directed schools in Delhi-NCR to shift classes to the hybrid mode, following which the DoE had issued the circular. The court had urged the Centre’s pollution watchdog to consider restarting physical classes due to many students missing out on the mid-day meals and lacking the necessary means to attend classes online. The CAQM had, on November 20, asked schools in Delhi-NCR to shift to the online mode of teaching.