'Online Learning is Not a Long-term Solution'

Q: Were you involved in any pandemic-related task beyond learning activities? If yes, are they now over or have they changed?

Teacher: I was involved in COVID-19 tasks. During the lockdown, the SDM had assigned me the duty of tracking migrants and ensuring that they reach home.

Since 24th June, I am regularly going to the school and teaching online. At present, I am not doing any pandemic-related work.

Q: Is ration or ration in lieu of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) being provided?

Teacher: Ration is being given instead of MDM. Teachers have been coming to the school since 24th June. Parents are called and given their portion of ration (pulses, rice, wheat) on a daily basis.

Q: What is your sense on children's online learning, and parental ability to monitor their studies?

Teacher: We are facing a lot of problems since online learning activities have begun in Rajasthan. Children don’t have smartphones so we have to be in touch with their parents. However, most of the parents also do not have smartphones. After Unlock, parents have started going to work, and hence their phone is with them and not with the children. There are network issues too.

Now that teachers have started coming to school it has become a little easier, but going online is not a long-term solution.

Q: Have you received any training on teaching during the pandemic?

Teacher: On 5th June, on Shikshak Abhiruchi Diwas, the teachers of Hindi, Mathematics and Science were provided an online training. Under the SMILE Programme, learning activities have begun for students of classes 1-12.

This interview was conducted with a Senior Secondary Teacher in Sanganer, Rajasthan in Hindi on 14 July 2020, and has been translated.