Back to school? Probably not

Back to school? Probably not

Besides, amid such chaos and uncertainty, the kids are sad, too.

 

Written by Leher Kala | New Delhi | Published: June 8, 2020 11:22:55 am

 

News that primary schools opened across the UK last week prompted speculation on my parents’ WhatsApp group, on the likelihood of restrictions lifting for educational institutions post the summer break in India. Predicting what happens a month from now seems futile when every day reveals new, unsettling information on how worryingly slowly the COVID curve is flattening in India.  Alas, we may be permitted to dream. It’s impossible to ignore signs of virus-fatigue and a restless yearning to return to normal, whatever that might be. More than the lockdown being lifted, the first real sign of normalcy for many of us is to see our kids back in school in a familiar routine.

 

Haryana plans to experiment by beginning with classes for senior grades, on the premise that 15-year-olds can be counted on to understand how crucial social distancing is. Parents remain unsure of the wisdom in opening schools because so many problematic questions persist. Firstly, when children go to school they come into contact with many more people than most adults do at work, providing more opportunity to get infected and in turn, bring the infection back home. Even if primary school here opens by August, how does one ensure 4 to 10-year-olds stay far away from each other? In my opinion, it’s impossible. Is the bus still viable? Is it even fair to expect teachers to function in a classroom environment anymore, which is pretty much the opposite of social distancing? Much as we parents would heave a sigh of relief at the thought of dropping them at the bus stop even on a cold Delhi morning, I fear, it’s going to be a long time before children under 10 see a classroom again.

 

Most people create their professional lives counting on the fact that children, for the large part of the day, will be occupied in school. The pandemic has been hugely disruptive for working parents and students who’ve abruptly had to adjust to so much, not least of which are the questionable academic gains of sitting in front of a screen for four hours a day. Then, there’s the alarming effect of suddenly seeing everyone you know with a mask — I’m sure it can be very intimidating for a young person. As parents, even if you’re vigilant, kids pick up so much just from conversations, or while we’re watching the news. It was worrying for me to notice, my 8-year-old hasn’t complained once about so many drastic changes in her life. It’s probably because Covid-19 worries her too. From a busy school day to music lessons, playdates and birthday parties, her life has become painfully dreary, alone and indoors. In the initial stages of the lockdown, parents tried to organize Zoom playdates for the children but the novelty soon wore off. It’s hard pretending online compares to the real deal, of meeting your friends, face to face.

 

We’re all a bit disheartened and weary by now and when processing this extraordinary health crisis is overwhelming for adults, one can only imagine how confusing it must be for children. My daughter was full of questions when she happened to read in the newspaper that a 12-year-old child died of dehydration, walking home at the height of the lockdown. It’s an instinctive reaction, to want to shield a young mind, from such stories of hideous hardship. I have found, fudging reality leads to more confusion.  Much better to give them the gist of it in a matter-of-fact kind of way — not dwelling on it in detail — but not denying it either. We assume kids don’t need to know what’s going on but they’re on their own devices seeing the same dreadful images we are. If you don’t provide some explanation, the child in all likelihood presumes things are far worse than they actually are. About Covid, I tell my kids they’re living through a surreal time, a time they’ll be telling their grandkids about. Meanwhile, like everyone else, they must stoically bear up and face the remainder of this horrendous year.

 

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/back-to-school-probably-not-6448266/

JEE Main 2020: Tips and tricks to ace Physics paper

JEE Main 2020: Tips and tricks to ace Physics paper

JEE Main 2020: Here are some tips and tricks to help you prepare for the physics section of the JEE Mains exam.

By : Rajshekhar Ratrey | EDUCATION Updated: Jun 10, 2020 18:56 IST

 

JEE Main 2020: Joint Entrance Examination, or JEE, is an entrance test for admissions in various prestigious engineering colleges in the country. With the exam being postponed this year due to the pandemic, students have got extra time for preparation. Here are some tips and tricks to help you prepare for the physics section of the exam.

 

General points to be taken into consideration:

 JEE Mains, being a competitive exam, it is all about scoring. We have a few smart tactics that can help to optimize your preparation:

 1.It is necessary to have a concrete idea about the whole syllabus and to segregate your strong points.

 2.Avoid those parts where you lag behind and usually take a lot of time and effort.

 3.Always carry small chits of formulae; have a look at them and recollect them in your leisure time to remember formulae in an easy and effective way.

 4.Practice previous years’ papers to have an idea of the trends of questions and take mock tests by setting the exact same time that’s allotted for the exam after learning the concepts.

 5.While learning, NCERT is the most important book to brush up the concepts and HC Verma and DC Pandey are good for practice.

 

 Weightage of important topics:

A large part of the Physics paper in JEE Mains is dominated by questions from: 

Vector and Simple Mathematics {2-3 questions}, 

Mechanics [3-4 questions], 

Electrostatics [2-3 questions], 

Electricity and Magnetism [3-4 questions], 

Wave and Optics [2-4 questions], 

Modern Physics [3-5 questions] and 

Heat and Thermodynamics [2-3 questions]. 

These major topics make almost 65-75% of the complete paper.

Allocation of time to each topic [4-6 hrs/day]:

 •Vector and simple Mathematics- 3 days

• Mechanics - 10-12 days

• Waves and oscillations- 5 days

•Electrostatics- 4-5 days

•Electricity and magnetism- 7-8 days

 

Final revision and question answering tactics:

1.No new concepts should be learned during the final revision.

2.During the final revision, only the short notes prepared by students or trusted sources should be revised instead of the whole book.

3.A day before the exam, sleep adequately, and except very important things nothing should be revised.

4.During the exam, one should make sure there is no extra burden of revision on you, let the mind be calm but confident and content.

5.One must focus on easy questions first [ ~ 50-60% of the whole question paper], then moderate [ 25-35%] and at last the tough questions [15-25%]

6.Students should fill the OMR sheet very carefully without any lag as the whole effort is judged on the basis of the sheet.

Quicker calculations and a strong sense of your fundamentals are what help you in the long run.

Solving good mock tests is important as it gives you an idea of your weak and strong areas and the time taken to solve questions from each topic.

Last year, there were over 11.5 lakh applicants in JEE Main. Students should remember that the best strategy to crack this exam is to keep your mind calm and give it your best shot.

(Author Rajshekhar Ratrey is VP, Educational Content, Toppr. Views expressed here are personal.)

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/

HRD Minister seeks suggestions on reducing syllabus for upcoming batch

Delhi deputy CM and education minister Manish Sisodia had also raised the concern and asked to drop chapters from not only school textbooks but also for JEE Main and NEET entrance exams scheduled to be held next year.

  

By: Education Desk | New Delhi | Updated: June 9, 2020 5:41:39 pm

 

The HRD Minister today said there are plans to reduce the syllabus of the academic year 2020. In a tweet, he mentioned: “In view of the current circumstances and after receiving a lot of requests from parents and teachers, we are contemplating the option of reduction in the syllabus and instructional hours for the coming academic year.”

With a delay in starting classes for the new sessions and a major section of students not being able to attend the online classes due to lack of proper infrastructure, several parents had been demanding to reduce the syllabus for the upcoming batch. In a meeting held recently between Union Minister of Human Resource and Development (HRD) Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and state education minister, Delhi Deputy CM and Education Minister Manish Sisodia had also raised the concern and asked to drop chapters from not only school textbooks but also for JEE Main and NEET entrance exams scheduled to be held next year.

However, what will be removed and what will remain is yet to be decided, for which the minister has sought suggestions. “I would like to appeal to all teachers, academicians, and educationists to share their point of view on this matter using #SyllabusForStudents2020 on MHRD’s or my Twitter and Facebook pages so that we can take them into consideration while making a decision,” he added.

While one of the biggest education boards, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) had already said that it is planning to reduce ‘proportionally’, there is no clarity yet on a college-level and entrance exam-level curriculum.

CBSE in an official statement had said that “it will assess the loss of instructional time for a proportionate reduction in curriculum load for exams. In accordance, the course committee of the Board has initiated work on the reduced syllabus in various scenarios.”

 

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/education/hrd-minister-exam-news-cbse-ncert-school-reopen-seeks-suggestions-on-reducing-syllabus-for-upcoming-batch-6450230/

Parents move SC against CBSE's decision to hold remaining Board exam

 By: TNN | Jun 9, 2020, 06.06 PM IST

NEW DELHI: A group of four parents on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court against CBSE's decision to hold the remaining examination of the Board(XII) from July 1 onwards and pleaded the court to direct that students be given marks on the basis of internal assessment in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

Alleging that the students including their children would be exposed to the pandemic if they come out of their houses to appear in examination to be conducted at 15,000 centres across the country, a group of four parents pleaded the apex court to intervene and stay the decision.

The petition, filed by advocate Rishi Malhotra, contended that many reputed educational institutions and Universities including Delhi university and IITs have decided not to conduct any examination and the CBSE be also directed to not to conduct examination for the remaining subjects. He said that some state Boards including Chhattisgarh have decided against holding any examination to protect students from being exposed to the deadly virus.

"CBSE's notification for holding of the remaining examination is discriminatory and arbitrary and that too in the month of July wherein as per the AIIMS data, the said COVID-19 pandemic would be at its peak.... As done by CBSE in its other 250 schools abroad and various State Boards, the examination scheduled to be conducted in July, should be cancelled and the marks could be allotted on the basis of internal assessment," the petition said.

"CBSE cancelled the examinations of Class X and XII for its 250 odd schools which are situated abroad and has adopted criteria in awarding marks on the basis of either practical exams conducted or internal assessment marks. It is highly regretful that the respondents herein have no genuine concern about putting the lives at peril of all the students pan India and have no explanation whatsoever in insisting upon holding the said examination in India," it said.

 

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/parents-move-sc-against-cbses-decision-to-hold-remaining-board-exam/articleshow/76284211.cms

CBSE Offers Certificate Online Courses for Teachers on DIKSHA Platform

CBSE has launched free certificate online courses for capacity building of its teachers based on select CBSE training manuals

CBSE, through the DIKSHA platform, has announced online training modules for its teachers. The Central Board of Secondary Education is offering online training courses on DIKSHA platform for capacity building of its teachers based on select CBSE training manuals and NCERT’s NISHTHA modules. While two online courses, namely ‘Pedagogy of Environmental Studies’ and ‘Health and Well-being in Schools’ are currently available, more courses will be added in the days to come.

How can Teachers take the Online Courses by CBSE?

CBSE teachers will first need to register themselves on the DIKSHA platform to access and complete the training courses. Those who successfully complete the online courses will also be able to download their digital certificates on DIKSHA from 15 June 2020 onwards. The following are the steps to be taken to access the online training:

1.     Teachers will first have to download the “DIKSHA – Platform for School Education” app from Google PlayStore on their Android mobile phones.

2.     Using the DIKSHA mobile application, teachers will then have to scan the QR codes provided on the CBSE notification to access the free courses.

3.     While more courses will be added, the upcoming courses that teachers can register for are as follows: Pedagogy of Language – 15 June 2020, Learning Outcomes and Pedagogy – 15 June 2020, and Pedagogy of Mathematics – 29 June 2020.

While COVID-19 has lead to closure of schools and colleges, it has provided an opportunity for leveraging technology to ensure continuity of learning and development of students and teachers through online learning. Recently, CBSE also announced online teacher training by CBSE – Centre of Excellences (CoEs). The teachers will be trained for free and will also be provided with an e-certificate.

Posted by: DQINDIA Online

Source : https://www.dqindia.com/cbse-offers-certificate-online-courses-teachers-diksha-platform/

Re-opening of schools, CBSE exams & results, university exams - Here's what HRD Minister said

By : Tulika Tandon | Jun 08, 2020

Union Human Resource Minister, Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has recently answered all the queries of students across India in an exclusive interview with TimesNow. The minister answered basic issues related to CBSE Board exams, University final year exams, reopening of schools, Governments plan for NEET, JEE etc. Watch the entire interview here.

The interview was conducted by the senior editor Megha Prasad. The interview by the end gave every student the answer to government’s plans and strategies regarding the education sector in India during the outbreak of a pandemic. The most important topics discussed that were discussed are listed below.

1.                 Board exam at home centres:

The minister said that since there is a problem in travelling and reaching the centres of CBSE Board, the students may inform their schools about their location which in turn would be informed to the Board by the school. Thus a child would not have to travel in this tensed atmosphere and reach the centres that are nearest to them to appear for the boards that are to be conducted in July. 

2.           Safety of students giving exams in July: 

When asked if it would be safe to conduct the exams in July as it would be the peak of COVID 19, the minister said that the government will see, observe and then continue the conduct of exams, As of now the Board dates have been decided from July 1 which would be conducted. The guidelines issued by MHA and health ministry would be followed very strictly by the Education ministry.

3.                 NCERT, UGC Taskforce in place:

The minister said that since the student population is more than 33 crore in India the UGC and NCERT task force is very helpful. Shifting to the online mode of teaching has been very fruitful in conducting classes as per the minister. He talked about Diksha, E Pathshala, SWAYAM, etc which are helpful platforms.

4.                 Reopening Schools:

The minister was asked about school reopening safety and social distancing issues. He said that it is quite evident that the parents would be worried about their wards but it would be primarily important for the students to be protected and study in a sanitized way for the government too. He is in talks with state education ministers regularly. The schools in the states would have to follow all guidelines issued by the MHA.

5.                      Entrance Exams delayed:

The students are under a lot of pressure on their entrance exams being delayed. The HRD Minister said the government is trying its best to ensure that the students do not lose a year over the pandemic and thus have decided to conduct entrance exams maintaining all social distancing norms at the centres. Although the number of students is high yet the authorities would maintain the safety of students at all times ad centres have been increased to deal with such problems.

6.                      Lack of resources:

The students of Jammu and Kashmir are specially facing internet issues as there are 2G services in the territory. The HRD Minister said that many classes over television and radio have been started by the government to cover this area and also the studnets have been provided with valuable learning through books and study materials. There has been no break as per him in the learning for the students of J-K.

Watch the entire interview to get exclusive details on all competitive exams, results, steps being taken by the Government and online classes issues faced by students. 

Link : https://www.timesnownews.com/education/article/re-opening-of-schools-cbse-exams-results-university-exams-heres-what-hrd-minister-said-watch-video/603073

CBSE Boards 2020: Holding exams in containment zones dilemma for board

In case the CBSE decides to call students from containment zones to test centres, it may also require permission from the Union home ministry.

By : Amandeep Shukla | Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Jun 09, 2020

As it readies to conduct nationwide exams for classes 10 and 12 in three weeks, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is faced with a dilemma: What to do if candidates in containment areas who cannot appear in the test.

The human resource development ministry has declared that the crucial exams will be held in July in 13,000 schools.

“There can be options like treating these students at par with those in CBSE schools abroad for whom there are no exams. However, these are not simple issues and have to be thoroughly deliberated,” said an official who wished not to be identified.

In case the CBSE decides to call students from containment zones to test centres, it may also require permission from the Union home ministry.

Some officers also point out that a large number of schools in areas like Delhi and many schools like the Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are being used as quarantine centres. For exams to be conducted, these institutions would need to be handed back to the organisations managing them. “The board and the ministry are aware of these matters. However, decisions on such aspects cannot be taken in a hurry. All aspects are being considered,” said the official cited above.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/

CBSE introduces skill subjects in middle school

TNN | Jun 8, 2020, 07.46 PM IST

CHANDIGARH: Class XI students will study three new skill subjects (design thinking, physical activity trainer, and artificial intelligence) from the session 2020-21. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced these courses to make the new generation more creative, innovative, and fit, to be able to keep pace with the requirements of the global industry. Schools can opt for one of three vocational courses.

Classes VI to VIII will read one skill subject of a 12-hour module.

The CBSE plans to develop students' critical-thinking mind for solving the 21st-century problems. Design thinking is a systematic process of opening up the horizons of creativity to come out with new and innovative solutions. Artificial intelligence or AI is machine simulation of the unlimited thinking capacity of humans.

CBSE's training and skill education director Biswajit Saha said: “Physical activity is a must to keep the body and mind healthy. The 'physical activity trainer' course is based on this principle. It will not only develop the skills of a trainer in students but also keep them fit for life."

  

At the middle level (Classes VI to VIII), the board will introduce a skill module of 12 hours for a single academic session. Schools can teach it in Class VI, VII , or VIII for necessary orientation early on for an informed choice later on to pursue skill courses at the secondary and senior secondary levels, or go for a higher vocational degree.

This flexibility will give students multiple career possibilities and save them from getting caught in the current situation of rigidity once the first choice is made.

This year, the CBSE will accept online applications for willingness.

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/chandigarh-cbse-introduces-skill-subjects-in-middle-school/articleshow/76265583.cms

MHRD releases NCERT alternative academic calendar for class 11, 12

By : EDUCATION Updated: Jun 03, 2020

hindustantimes.com| Edited by Nandini

Click here for NCERT higher secondary alternative academic calendar    

Union human resource development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has released an alternative academic calendar developed by NCERT on Wednesday. The alternative calendar directs teachers on the use of various technological tools/social media tools to educate students while they are at home.

Tweeting about the alternative academic calendar, HRD minister wrote, “The calendar will cater to the needs of all children including Divyang children (Children with Special Need)- link for Audiobooks, Radio programmes, Video programmes, etc. will be included. This will empower our students, teachers, school principals, and parents to find out positive ways to deal with Covid-19 using on-line teaching-learning resources and help in the attainment of learning outcomes.”

Meanwhile CIET- NCERT also tweeted about the academic calendar, “Come online, teach your children at home and be safe with Alternative Academic Calendar.”

About the Alternative Academic Calendar:

A week-wise plan for the higher secondary stage (for Classes XI and XII) has been developed, keeping in view the availability of tools with the teachers. The week-wise plan consists of interesting activities and challenges, with reference to the themes and chapters taken from the syllabus or textbook across the subject areas. Most importantly, it maps the themes with the learning outcomes.

Initially, this calendar is prepared for four weeks, which may be extended further. In this calendar the themes/topics have been selected from syllabus and are linked with the learning outcomes. Guidelines have been developed for conducting interesting activities based on these learning outcomes. But it is a matter of fact that many teachers and parents only have simple mobile phones as a tool available at their homes and all the teachers and students do not have virtual classroom facility. In view of this the activities are designed and presented in such a way that many activities can be conducted by the parents and students on their own after talking to the teachers over phone.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com

CBSE issues guidelines for students taking board exams from July 1

By : Hindustantimes |  Correspondent |  Jun 02, 2020

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday released the provisions and guidelines for board students slated to appear for their examination between July 1 and 15. The exams had been postponed since March 19 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown that followed.

The board has laid down special provisions for students who have returned to their home towns and wish to appear from a different examination centre than their schools. Last week, HT had reported that students in residential or boarding schools were likely to face challenges while returning to their schools to appear for their papers.

“The CBSE will allow change of examination centre with respect to candidates who have shifted and are residing in districts other than the place of their school,” the board said on Tuesday. Students who were residing in hostels, or were being sponsored by state governments, or those who have shifted from the district of their school to other districts will be eligible to change their exam centres.

Since Delhi will be considered as a single district for this purpose, change of examination centre from one local district to another will not be permitted, the board said. While the exams for 12 subjects of Class 12 will be held across the country, the examinations for six subjects of Class 10 will be held only in north-east Delhi, which was torn by communal riots in February, with the result that children in these parts were unable to take their exams.

For students whose schools fall in containment zones, different centres will be allotted outside the containment zone. The board will accept requests of candidates for change of examination centre only through their school. Schools have been asked to contact the students and provide the necessary information to the board through the e-pariksha portal of the CBSE website between June 3 and 11.

The board will later provide “Permission Letters” to the schools to forward it to students who will have to take printouts of the letter and carry it to their exam centres. The CBSE has also said the exam results of children with special needs, who need scribes and do not wish to appear for their papers, will be declared as per the assessment scheme that is to be decided by the board.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/