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MUMBAI: Highlighting the digital divide, parents in rural and urban areas differ in proportion on the question of whether it is time to switch back to physical classrooms. While 88% of parents in villages are in favour of schools resuming proper classes, the corresponding proportion in cities is 78%.
The results are part of an online survey conducted by the State Council of Educational Research and Training on parents’ willingness for schools to resume physically. Last year, students in rural areas were reported to have suffered loss of learning because of poor internet connectivity. Online-only classes have also resulted in higher dropout rates, especially of girls, a corresponding increase in child labour and depression, particularly in villages.
Not surprisingly, parents in rural and semi-urban areas, with poor power and internet infrastructure, are keener than their city counterparts for schools to reopen. Of the 2,69,116 parents across the state who participated in the survey, 1,40,424 were from rural Maharashtra, 1,00,727 from cities and the rest from semi-urban areas.
The reopening of schools will be decided by a committees set up in villages that have been Covid-free for a month. Along with keeping Covid protocols in place, parental consent is a must to start physical schools. Classes each day cannot exceed four hours and only main subjects will have to be taught. Each class should not have more than 20 students and attendance is not compulsory.
The results are part of an online survey conducted by the State Council of Educational Research and Training on parents’ willingness for schools to resume physically. Last year, students in rural areas were reported to have suffered loss of learning because of poor internet connectivity. Online-only classes have also resulted in higher dropout rates, especially of girls, a corresponding increase in child labour and depression, particularly in villages.
Not surprisingly, parents in rural and semi-urban areas, with poor power and internet infrastructure, are keener than their city counterparts for schools to reopen. Of the 2,69,116 parents across the state who participated in the survey, 1,40,424 were from rural Maharashtra, 1,00,727 from cities and the rest from semi-urban areas.
The reopening of schools will be decided by a committees set up in villages that have been Covid-free for a month. Along with keeping Covid protocols in place, parental consent is a must to start physical schools. Classes each day cannot exceed four hours and only main subjects will have to be taught. Each class should not have more than 20 students and attendance is not compulsory.
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