From the idea of teaching children of remote forest areas through a loudspeaker to the teacher who taught children under the umbrella on his motorcycle, innovative practices in Chhattisgarh during the Covid crisis is being appreciated across the country. ‘Padhai Tunhar Duwar’ initiative was applauded by NITI Ayog as well.

Padhai Tunhar Duwar

During the national lockdown due to the Covid crisis, it was a big challenge to continue the education of school children. Classes could not be held in this situation of pandemic. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel addressed the situation and emphasized on online and offline education of children. Online classes were started under the banner of ‘Padhai Tunhar Duwar’. At present nearly 20 lakh students and 2 lakh teachers are associated with the android app for online education. Every day, children attend online classes and also get to ask queries and doubt regarding the subject. Till date, nearly 39.57 lakh online classes have been held. Teachers have uploaded around 18,184 video lessons and 914 audio lessons for the students.

Padhai Tunhar Para

Nearly 44% of the area in Chhattisgarh is covered with forest without internet connectivity, because of which children had trouble attending the online classes. To solve this problem, small classes at mohalla and para level were started and bluetooth was used to share the study material with students. These mohalla classes were named ‘Padhai Tunhar Para’. Under Padhai Tunhar Para initiative, around 23,643 teachers are helping about 7,48,266 students to continue their education in 35,982 centres. The parents are also happy with this arrangement and are extending their support.

Loudspeaker School

More than two thousand teachers in the state have taught more than 69,000 children through loudspeaker classes. These loudspeaker classes were held in villages to teach a large number of students simultaneously while practicing the norm of social distancing.

As the schools were closed during lockdown, more than 28 lakh students of 45,000 schools in the state were provided dry ration at their doorstep

Bultu Ke Bol

People who did not have an internet facility were provided quality study material through bluetooth. In 4677 weekly markets, as many as 1608 teachers transferred more than 60,000 audio lectures to 27,000 parents through bluetooth, as they did not have smartphones or internet connectivity.

Expansion under RTE

Apart from the innovative practices, steps are being taken to improve the entire education system. Education up to the 12th standard has been included under RTE. Earlier, education upto 8th standard was provisioned under this act but later, considering the needs of children from poor families, the provision was revised. Recently, the State Government has decided to directly transfer the tuition fee to the bank accounts of private schools under this act to relieve the students of BPL category and to help them achieve quality education.

Swami Atmanand English Medium School

A new scheme has been launched in the name of Swami Atmanand to coach students of financially weak background for national-level competitive exams. 53 Swami Atmanand Government English Medium Schools have been opened in the selected district headquarters on the occasion of State Foundation Day. Nearly 27,000 students have taken admission in these schools, where they are being provided free education. The state government has set the target of opening at least one English Medium School in each of the block headquarters.

Students attend classes maintaining the social-distancing norms

Merger of Teachers

16,278 teachers of panchayat and urban bodies, who have completed two years of service in the state, have been merged under School Education Department on November 1, 2020.

Distribution of Dry Ration to Children During Corona Crisis

As the schools were closed during lockdown, more than 28 lakh students of 45,000 schools in the state were provided dry ration at their doorstep. This decision of Chhattisgarh Government to deliver dry ration of midday meal to the houses of students was appreciated across the country.

People who did not have an internet facility were provided quality study material through bluetooth.

Education in Local Dialect

The state government has also made an arrangement to educate the children of tribal families in forest areas in their local dialect such as Gondi, Halbi, Sargujiya, Kuduku and others. Bilingual books are also being made available for primary school education.

Uniform and Textbook

Free uniforms have been distributed to the children studying in primary and middle schools of the state. Around 49 lakh children of government school and madarsas have been provided school uniforms. Likewise, 55 lakh students of 1st to 10th standard have been provided textbooks free of cost.