Schools required sufficient budget for enhancement of information communication technology (ICT) so as to resume educational activities disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis through an alternative procedure, stressed participants of a programme here today.
During a virtual interaction organised by the Community School Management Committee Federation of Nepal and Siksha Niti and and Abhyas Kendra (Centre for Education Policy and Practice) today, participants complained that the government guidelines for a teaching procedure through an alternative means came late and budget had not been arranged for access to communications.
All academic institutions have remained closed since the enforcement of coronavirus lockdown since March 24. The SEE exams and examinations of other higher classes have been put off owing to the crisis.
Amidst the crisis, some institutions have resumed online and distant learning classes on their own sources. The guideline for learning facilitation issued by the Ministry of Education, Health and Technology suggests all school to re-start learning activities through an alternative way from coming June 15.
Education expert Dr Bidyanath Koirala said confusions had prevailed in resuming learning activities as schools waited for the government order instead of owning up responsibility on time. More, the Ministry made a delay in taking a decision and local levels seemed indifferent to sit for dialogues with bodies concerned to address the issue.
Nepal Teachers' Federation chair Baburam Thapa said the government had begun consultations with them after two months of the lockdown. However, teachers continued to exchange learning activities through online in the wake of lockdown, he added.
As he said, the government has allocated no budget for information technology in schools.
Educationalist Tika Bhattarai stressed the need of promoting of teaching activities amidst the adversities.
School Management Committee Federation chair Krishna Thapa said the committee was facilitating for the implementation of alternative teaching method while Federation's Karnali state chair Govinda Koirala was against the development of community schools into COVID-19 quarantine facilities.
