Reconnecting with the classroom

Packed curriculum, fewer holidays and readjusting to the new normal post COVID-19 pandemic, students have many challenges ahead as schools have reopened after a long gap

Schools have finally reopened their doors after COVID-19 shutdown, but fresh challenges await the government, school authorities and the students in a new-normal world post lockdown. Students now need tailored and sustained support to readjust and catch up after the pandemic and the government and school administrators must prepare to provide that support and help young learners in meeting the enormous challenges of the months ahead. Only a mission-mode operation can help reduce and reverse the long-term negative effects through learning recovery programmes and adequate preparation for future shocks by equipping better. Lack of personal interaction between a teacher and a student has already done its share of damage. A large section of students who have no access to technology have completely lost out on the precious academic time while those who did rely on the virtual mode, have not gained much. The immediate task of the teacher now will be to ensure that students who have fallen behind receive the support that they need to catch up to expected learning targets. “I am not sure how much my son has benefited from the online classes during the pandemic shutdown. Teachers now will have to shoulder the responsibility of first motivating the young minds to come back to their normal classroom studies before diving into the daily routine,” says Dondapati Saraswathi, a mother of a Class VIII student.