Schools to reopen in phases with 50% online classes: Pokhriyal

Schools all over the country will open in a phased manner, one class at a time, but 50% of the teaching will continue online, Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has said.

The minister also ruled out cancelling or deferring board exams or conducting them online. Competitive exams such as JEE and NEET would be based on the curtailed syllabus, he said.

Pokhriyal was attending Shiksha Sambad, a live online interaction with students of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KV) all over the country.

“The government will reopen Kendriya Vidyalaya schools in a phased manner for students of one class at a time,” the minister said. "Both online and offline classes will be conducted as half the students will be allowed to attend classes physically in the classroom while the rest of the students will attend online classes. So, we would still be having 50 per cent online classes.”

Asked by a student if the question papers for competitive exams would be based on the curtailed CBSE syllabus, Pokhriyal said: “The students will only have to study the revised syllabus for the CBSE board exams and other exams based on CBSE board syllabus 2021 such as Joint Entrance Examination (JEE 2021) and National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET). The questions will only be asked from that portion.”

When a student expressed fear about travelling to the exam centre amid the pandemic, the minister highlighted how exams were held at the peak of the pandemic. “We have successfully conducted NEET and JEE 2020, even a portion of CBSE 2020 board exams. Hence, students need to worry about the fears surrounding exams and must appear for their papers without any tension. May be the pandemic situation would ease further during the exam.”

Pokhriyal also spoke about Manodarpan, a platform to help students by improving their mental health, and the Fit India campiagn. “While students have a lot of time to prepare for the exams, there is no reason to fear. But if you are anxious, go to Manodarpan portal and talk about your worries. They will be addressed."

He urged parents not to be wary of about sending students to school as long as all COVID protocol is maintained.

While lauding the performance of Kendriya Vidyalayas, the minister said, "We will ensure that the education policies of Kendriya Vidyalayas are replicated at the grassroot level as well.”