‘If the Government Is Planning to Focus on Online Education, They will Need to Hire New Teachers’

Q: Have schools reopened now?

Teacher: Schools have reopened. According to the government’s guidelines, only the students of Standard 5th are allowed to come to school in the primary section. Social distancing is being ensured. We are also not holding morning assemblies and are sending students directly to class. Masks and sanitisers are being provided in the school.

Q: How are you going to measure what students have learned online during the lockdown?

Teacher: It is very challenging for us. Because of not coming to school for a year, children are behind in their studies. They are not able to understand the basics, most of them are having trouble in writing assignments. In a few days, their final exams will start.

Parents also have not been able to supervise children in their studies. It will take time for us to fill the gap in learning now.

Q: Do you think teaching-learning methods will change now?

Teacher: Personally, I don’t think there is going to be a change. The government is talking about it, but it will require a lot of money and resources. If the government is planning to focus on computer and online education, then they will also need to hire new teachers because we don’t have a lot of information about new technology.

Therefore, practically I don’t think it’s possible for the government to do all of this so soon.

This interview was conducted with a Teacher in Solan, Himachal Pradesh in Hindi on 28 February 2021, and has been translated.

Source: Global Partnership for Education