Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 16: The ambitious 'Vidyagama' scheme of the government that had been designed to help the students to keep learning in an environment vitiated by the pandemic, will be re-introduced in revised format soon. This announcement was made by education minister S Suresh Kumar.

The said scheme had been introduced on August 8 but was abruptly suspended on temporary basis on October 10. Now, the department has planned to bring it back in a revised form. The minister said that as desired by the high court, safety measures have been introduced and the scheme will see several reforms.

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The minister said that Vidyagama comes in handy to help the children maintain continuity of the learning process. "The scheme had created favourable opinion among the teachers and parents. The department has made preparations in the interests of the children to re-introduce the scheme. The need for maintaining continuity in education is very much felt," he explained.

Kumar stated that based on the availability of teachers and rooms, teams of 15 to 20 students would be formed. The relevant local administrations will bear the responsibility of sanitizing the rooms. The children can be advised to bring drinking water from home. Because of Covid prevalence, respective zilla panchayat chief executive officers will be in-charge of the entire programme. Deputy director of public instruction will be the implementing authority for the scheme.

The programme will be held in the premises of government, aided and unaided schools. Online classes and lessons on Chandana TV will continue. The children can come to the school premises with masks for half a day to learn lessons. Letter from parents and thermal screening of children are compulsory. Students with covid-19 symptoms like fever, cough, cold etc cannot attend the programme.

During the school time, three classes of 45 minutes each would be conducted in the morning and evening. Students have been suggested to come in seven to eight groups every day. Standard operating procedures will have to be followed.

It has been clarified that this is not school opening but just taking lessons in the school premises based on the convenience with a small number of students.