Uncertainty over alternative methods of teaching-learning

With the COVID-19 still largely affecting the public life, the districts including Kailali in the Sudurpaschim State have been uncertain on which alternative method they could adopt to resume the teaching-learning activities.

The categorization and recording of students have been going on in line with the School Teaching Facilitation Guideline, 2077. But the indecision on methods for the resumption of schools has further confused the school administration, teachers and guardians.

Some schools have however begun the class by maintaining the social distance and safety measures.

Principal at Kailali Vidya Niketan in Dhangadhi, Topendra Shah, shared the problem, “A guardian from Bajhang district requested the schools to teach his children by visiting his own district. As the schools have to depend largely on the guardians on the methods of teaching, it takes time to finalize the proper alternative methods.” He added that diverse suggestions were floated by the guardians and teachers on the resumption of a school class.

The local levels had issued circulars to the schools here to implement the Teaching Guideline and the schools are also for the resumption of the class.

Similarly, a lecturer TN Joshi informed that at a time when some local levels have not fully lifted the prohibitory order to contain the spread of coronavirus, the local level’s direction to resume teaching-learning has added further uncertainty. “Which method of alternative teaching-learning is to adopt? Who is there to own up the responsibility if any one- student or teacher- gets infected while running the class?” These are itchy issues indeed, according to him.

The debate is surfaced whether to begin teaching students by reaching their settlements or by adopting virtual way. The virtual class is not only costly but also impractical because many students are out of internet access. At such a situation, the number of students to attend class could be managed fewer than the usual and teach them on a rotational basis, it is another option.

A school student Ramesh Ojha observed, “Students are happy to hear the news that teaching-learning would be resumed after such a long gap. But, as the coronavirus is not contained, there is still a fear of infection.”

Section Officer at Education Section of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolis Office, Mahadev Joshi, viewed that at the present situation, running schools with half of the students and in a rotational basis would be an effective option. Social distancing and adoption of safety measures are imperative, he stressed.