ITANAGAR, Sep 21: After a hiatus of over six months, the ‘doubt-clearing sessions’ for students of Classes 9-12 resumed in the state on Monday, following the direction of the union health & family welfare ministry in its Unlock 4 guidelines.
Informing the press about it here on Monday, Education Minister Taba Tedir said that the state government has decided to open schools from 21 September for students from Classes 9 to 12 “to allow the students to clear any doubt or get rid of any confusion regarding their studies.”
He, however, said that the students would first have to obtain permission from their parents.
“Classes from 1st to 8th grades are continuing through online where internet connectivity is good. Students living in places where there is no network connectivity have been given a worksheet, which has to be submitted to the subject teachers every month,” Tedir said.
He stated that students of Classes 9 and 12 can voluntarily attend schools to clear any doubt or confusion about their studies while maintaining the Covid-19 guidelines and with consent from their parents.
The minister informed that the state government has issued a letter to the heads of secondary and higher secondary schools, DDSEs, principals and vice principals across the state to attend to students who come to them with any confusion, while observing the school reopening guidelines of the centre concerned.
Regarding the compartment examination slated to be held from Tuesday, Tedir said that reduced strength, wearing of masks and use of sanitizers will be the norm while conducting the examination.
“Do not share drinking water bottles and pens with others; wear masks and gloves compulsorily, and use sanitizers,” Tedir advised the students appearing for the compartment exams.
He informed that videoconference sessions would be conducted on 29 September with the heads of institutions of the 283 higher secondary and secondary level schools across the state to gather inputs regarding the recent decision to partially open schools.
On the national education policy (NEP), Tedir welcomed it, saying that the new NEP “is comprehensive and farsighted, with emphasis to reform foundational learning among students.”
He said the NEP would “help students have more understanding of what subject matter they are studying, especially helping those students who used to memorize the content without understanding it to shift to skill acquisition.
“I have firm belief that the new NEP will instill a sense of competitiveness among the students and discourage the system of rote learning, which is deeply embedded in our education system,” Tedir said.
