Karnataka government has ordered the schools to suspend all online classes for students of LKG to Class 5, with immediate effect.
"The education department has decided to ban online classes in the lower primary and primary classes in the state and it applies to all the schools, irrespective of their curriculum," said Primary and Secondary Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar on Wednesday.
The minister also warned the schools of stringent action if they are found collecting fee for online classes.
Amid growing resistance of parents to schools conducting online classes, the minister convened a meeting of educationists, mental health experts, representatives of private school managements and child rights activists to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of online education. Am expert panel was set up to look into the issue.
The committee constituted to study the impact of online education on the middle and high school students comprises Professor M.K. Sridhar, member, drafting committee of National Education Policy, senior educationists Professor Gururaj Karjagi and Dr V. P. Niranjanaradhya, representatives from Azim Premji Foundation, and NIMHANS. Private school managements and education department will also frame guidelines for online education for middle and high school students, while exploring technology-based teaching for lower classes.
"The expert panel will give a report within the next 10 days on the guidelines to be followed during online classes for older children. The panel will suggest alternative teaching methods, adoption and judicious use of technology to maintain continuity in education and to motivate students to learn better in the absence of classroom teaching. The panel will suggest alternatives that are inclusive and designed keeping in mind the socio-economic status of the students in both urban and rural areas," said Kumar.
The minister reiterated that no school is allowed to hike the school fee this year.
