Some schools will conduct remedial classes to plug possible learning gaps that students might encounter since many of them could not attend online classes because of digital divide.
A section of schools has developed content for bridge courses on their own and will hold remedial classes once campuses reopen for in-person classes from November 16.
Some will hold classes based on the bridge course material being developed by an expert committee of the state’s school education department.
Schools like Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School, Sanskrit Collegiate and Jadavpur Vidyapith are planning remedial classes.
Schools have been shut since March 2020. Schools reopened briefly in February for classes IX to XII but shut following a spike in Covid cases.
During this period, classes were held over digital platforms and a section of students barely learned anything because of the digital divide, said an official of the school education department.
“Some could not afford data packs following Covid-induced financial constraints. There are students who live in areas that have unstable Internet connectivity. It is a must that schools conduct remedial classes to address the gap,” the official said.
Papia Sinhga Mahapatra, headmistress, Sakhawat Memorial Government Girls High School, said they will hold bridge classes.
The weaker students will be identified and the school will hold special classes for them before introducing them to regular classes.
Mahapatra said there were students from underprivileged families who could not attend any classes online.
“A class teacher knows best who is encountering deficiencies. We will hold these classes on our own. We have heard that the department is also preparing the content for a bridge course,” Mahapatra said.
Debabrata Mukherjee, headmaster, Sanskrit Collegiate School, said the remedial classes were required to give students a breathing space.
“Or else, some students might not want to come to school. If the school does not take care of the deficiencies, the student will not be able to cope. This is true of those who could not attend online classes,” he said.
The objective is to minimise the learning gap to create a common platform before starting regular classes.
Parimal Bhattacharya, headmaster, Jadavpur Vidyapith, said: “These special classes will help, especially those students preparing for board exams.”
Aveek Majumder, chairman of the expert committee, told The Telegraph: “The content that would be sent to schools is intended to address the gaps on an immediate basis. We are also creating content for a detailed bridge course to be shared with schools early next year.”