‘Health, safety and security of every student important’

RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK, Union human resource development minister

NEWDELHI: The Union human resources development minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank spoke to Amandeep Shukla about reopening schools after the lockdown, CBSE board exams for students in containment zones, and the new education policy, among other issues. Edited excerpts of an email interview:

The HRD ministry has initiated a consultation with states on the process of reopening schools. What is the progress on this?

The ministry has only initiated the consultation with states and Union Territories for preparing guidelines and SOPs — for school health and hygiene, safety protocols, and academic and administrative matters — to be taken into consideration when states and UTs decide to reopen schools. It is not for deciding the dates for reopening schools. The decision for reopening of schools will be taken by the concerned state government or UT administration as and when they find it safe to reopen schools following the guidelines of the MHA and the ministry of health.

Has the ministry prepared a road map for opening of schools? Is there a possibility that the schools may open in some states or areas while those with high rates of COVID-19 incidence may teach

online?

Education is on the concurrent list. It is for the state government or UT administration to prepare the road map for reopening of schools and also decide the dates for reopening of schools in their respective regions.

Several reports suggest that many parents may not be comfortable to send their children to schools. How will you address those concerns?

I understand the apprehensions of parents. The concerns of the parents and other stakeholders will be considered by the state government or UT administration before deciding to open the schools. I want to assure every parent that the health, safety and security of each and every student is of utmost importance to the government.

The CBSE is to conduct Class X and XII board exams from July 1 to July 15. What measures will be put in place to ensure these exams are conducted safely?

To address the issue of safe conduct of examinations, CBSE has taken two decisions in consultation with the HRD ministry: the examinations would now be conducted in the respective schools of the candidates instead of the examination centre already allotted; and CBSE will allow change of examination centre in respect of candidates who have shifted and are residing in some other district in the country than the place of their school. CBSE has also started a helpline (1800-11-8002) to address all the concerns of parents and students. The services are available between 9.30am and 5pm on all working days.

In case a student finds it difficult to take the exam, as in states like Delhi the number of cases being reported are high, will there be a redressal mechanism? For instance, a student from a containment zone or a student who is in isolation may not be able to take the exam.

In the containment zone, no examination centre will be permitted. In case of schools falling in containment zones as on date, examination centre of the students of these schools will be allotted outside the containment zone. For the preventive measures, directives issued by Union government and CBSE will be duly followed by the schools.

What is the status of the New Education Policy?

The ministry is coherently working at a faster pace on the New Education Policy. We will submitting it to the Cabinet soon. The pandemic gave me an opportunity to build a resilient and sustainable education for all the students. E–learning definitely has a long way to go. We are devising strategies to reach the farthest student.