Kid’s video on ‘less homework’ goes viral

J&K L-G responds to minor’s appeal, directs for lightening of homework burden

The Jammu and Kashmir authorities, on Tuesday, issued guidelines for virtual classes for schoolchildren at various levels, restricting their duration to enable them to spare more time to play and interact with parents, which it said would be the biggest learning experience a child can have.

This comes days after a video, in which a 6-yearold Kashmiri girl can be seen complaining directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the avoidable burden of Zoom classes on tiny tots, went viral.

After seeing the video, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha had tweeted, “Very adorable complaint. Have directed the school education department to come out with a policy within 48 hours to lighten the burden of homework on school kids. Childhood innocence is a gift of God and their days should be lively, full of joy and bliss.”

In the video, the sixyear-old asked the Prime Minister, “Assalamu Alaikum (peace be upon you) Modi Sahab, chote bachon ko itna kaam kyon rakhtay hain (why do you assign so much work to small children?)”

She said that her Zoom classes start at10.00 am and continue till 2.00 pm, the period during which she is taught English, Math, Urdu, EVS, and computer. On Tuesday, Mr Sinha, while announcing the new guidelines for the virtual classes for schoolchildren, wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter, “The school education department has decided to limit daily online classes for a maximum of one-andhalf hours for Classes 1 to 8, spread across two sessions. For Classes 9 to 12, online synchronous learning will not be more than three hours.”

In another tweet, he said, “Pre-primary on a given day for interacting with parents shall be only 30 minutes. Concerned authorities to ensure the strict implementation. Homework up to Class 5 should be avoided. Authorities and schools plan joyful learning experiences engaging parents as well.”