Arjumand Shah
Srinagar : Amid the lockdown to stop spread of deadly coronavirus, government school teachers are voluntarily reaching out to their students via WhatsApp groups to keep them engaged in the teaching-learning process.
Educational institutions are closed since the lockdown enforced to stop spread of coronavirus, but that does not mean a break from learning. Teachers of government schools are voluntarily reaching out to their students via WhatsApp groups to keep them engaged.
Mehjabeen, who works as Math teacher in one of the Government schools, said “Due to the lockdown, our teachers started online classes and the students are very excited. They like the new technique of teaching,” she claimed.
Encouraging the children to study at home in this crucial time, many government school teachers too have formed a WhatsApp group with students so that they can use the lock-down period gainfully.
“Our objective is to share school- related information and educational lectures on different subjects,” Mohmmad Hussan, teacher at the primary school in Anantnag district told news agency KINS.
Mohmmad Ramzan, a teacher at Baramullha said, “During the lockdown, we observed the power of WhatsApp as an education tool. It is also a way to share lessons with all the students who are unable to attend schools due to public health concerns,” he said.
Another teacher here in Budgam district said that through WhatsApp and other available resources we are sending home assignments and many more learning activities to the students.
Waseem Ahmad, a resident of Padsahbagh Srinagar told KINS that with schools closed he was worried about the studies of his children but since the class teachers have started teaching through WhatsApp groups, he was relieved.
“Coronavirus had left us scared about the safety of children, especially those going to schools and when schools were closed we were worried about studies being suffering because of it, but now digital learning is coming handy,” he added.
Shabir Ahmad, another resident, said his son is a student of Class 8th. “ Since schools were closed, I was concerned about the studies of my son, but I was quite surprised when his class teacher formed the WhatsApp group and started taking classes regularly well as provided assignments and other learning materials,” he said and added that now he feel that the school has come home with the help of digital platform.
Students maintained that teachers are giving lectures to students with the help of Audios and videos so it is like regular school. “We are thankful that teachers and schools are making optimum use of technology to ensure students do not suffer due to lockdown, said Sabit Manzoor a student of 9th class.
It is to mention here that to ensure that studies of students of government schools do not suffer during the lockdown period; the education department has issued instructions to the schools to promote digital learning so that students can continue their learning by making full use of digital e-learning platforms.
However, one of the government officials told KINS that joining such groups was not mandatory. “We are not expecting every teacher in the state to join. Those who do not have phones can’t do so. However, the idea was that even if one school teacher from a particular place joins, he can then pass on the information to other members of his school,” he added.(KINS)
