Frontlist News | Academic Year 2020-21 won't be a 'Zero Year', Exams, Classes To Be Held, Education Ministry informs Parl Panel

Frontlist News | Academic Year 2020-21 won't be a 'Zero Year', Exams, Classes To Be Held, Education Ministry informs Parl Panel
on Aug 12, 2020

Amid rising concerns around closure of the colleges and higher education institutions across the country, the Union Education Ministry has allayed fears of academic year 2020-21 being a ‘Zero Year’. Ministry informed the Parliamentary Panel that it is hopeful of conducting Classes and also holding Exams in near future. In a meeting held on Monday, Education Ministry presented its case before the Parliament Panel confirming to that it is also trying to conduct exams by the end of the session, according to the details shared by sources. The meeting was attended by School education secretary, higher education secretary, UGC chairman and other officials of the Education Ministry, who briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources about their efforts to streamline education of students at school and higher education level across the country amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Parl Panel Questioned Holding of Online Classes

Parliamentary Panel Chairman Vinay Sahasrabuddhe also questioned the Education Ministry officials about the feasibility of holding online classes for students and its effectiveness in terms of learning outcomes. The panel said that ministry must consider the viability of online classes for poor families who cannot afford mobile phones or laptop computers. Panel also said that in poor families where there might just one smartphone or mobile phone, it would be difficult for students to get access to online education.

Community Radio Based Education Classes

As an alternative, the Parliamentary Panel on HRD has also recommended the ministry to employ community radio and transistor to deliver online classes to the students. Using this method would prove to the cost-effective compared to mobile phones, can be provided to poor students. Moreover, the panel also suggested that respective departments within the ministry should compile a ‘big question bank of all subjects for students, which can be distributed among them to help them prepare for the exams in next session. This will help in addressing the exam management issue as well as ease the anxiety and fear among students amid this coronavirus crisis.