‘Teachers have not been provided with any Training’

Q. What steps have been taken by the government to maintain COVID-19 appropriate behaviour in the schools of your Block?

Block Education Officer (BEO): We have received instructions from the District Education Department that COVID-19 reports for all the school children and staff from the Block need to be sent to the District Education Officer. Apart from this, thermal scanning and sanitisation at the time of entry has been made compulsory for students and staff.

Children and staff with COVID-19 symptoms are being asked to rest at home.

Q. What kind of funds or infrastructure has been provided to the schools in your Block for efficient functioning? Are schools facing any difficulties in implementing COVID-19 protocols?

BEO: We have received the composite grants given by Samagra Shiksha. There are no problems in its expenditure as we plan the same with the School Management Committee.

Q. Has there been any change in the enrollment numbers of students?

BEO: Yes, enrollment has increased and we are enrolling students according to department instructions.

Private schools have been charging large fees throughout the pandemic even when the schools were closed, this has been a major reason for the increase in government school enrollments.

Q. Have you noticed any difference in learning levels? If yes, what measures are being taken to cover the deficit?

BEO: In my experience, students’ learning levels have dropped over the previous year. This is because not all students have access to online education and the one’s attending online classes were not being monitored. The term exams have also pointed towards a drop in learning levels. We are trying to cover these gaps in offline classes now.

Q. Have the teachers been provided with any training related to learning?

BEO: No, teachers have not been provided with any training to teach students.

Q. How has your work changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

BEO: There hasn’t been any change in the administrative work, even though the office remained closed for some time, we worked from home. Due to closure of schools, field work like inspection and supervision has not happened.

This interview was conducted with a Block Education Officer in Himachal Pradesh in Hindi on 29 December 2021, and has been translated.

Source: TESS India