Delhi govt asks pvt schools to suspend online classes

The Delhi government on Wednesday directed all private schools in Delhi to suspend online and semi-online classes during the summer vacation that began on Tuesday. Private schools, however, can conduct remedial classes and other vocational activities in online mode, the government said.

In a circular issued on Wednesday, the directorate of education (DOE) said, “lt has been brought to the notice of this directorate that despite the summer vacation which has been advanced due to surge in Covid-19 cases, regular online learning method continues to be adopted in one way or the other by some private schools. The online classes are being used as a substitute for physical classroom learning without any break.”

The DOE directed all private schools that all “online and semi-online” teaching and learning activities will remain suspended during the summer break. “However, the schools may conduct vacation-related specific activities, remedial classes for a specific set of students and other activities for creativity, happiness, and overall social and emotional well-being of the students without calling them to school physically,” the circular added.

The direction came a day after the Delhi Parents Association wrote to the government, requesting it to issue clear guidelines for private schools to follow during the vacations. Aprajta Gautam, president of the association, said, “We welcome the new DOE direction. It has ended the confusion created by a DOE order issued on Monday.”

The vacation, which was scheduled between May 11 and June 3, was rescheduled to April 20-June 9, in view of Covid-19.

Principals of several private schools said they will conduct remedial classes and other activities for students. Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School, said, “We will follow the government’s order and make plans for remedial classes and activities for the overall well-being of students.”

Some principals expressed concerns over the “abrupt” suspension of online classes. “It would have been better if private schools were allowed to set their own timeline for a summer break,” said the principal of a private school in south Delhi.