Tasaduq Hussain
Srinagar, Aug 12: To mitigate the educational loss suffered by students due to the ongoing lockdown in view of the Coronavirus pandemic, the private school teachers have been voluntarily holding community classes of over 300 students at Dedikote area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
The open air classes were started after the government enforced lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir and directed all the educational institutions to remain shut to contain the spread of deadly Coronavirus that has so far claimed 450 lives in Jammu and Kashmir.
The volunteers who have been holding open air classes under proper adherence of COVID protocols said that, “The idea was to ensure that the students from this remote area don’t suffer further academic loss who were away from schools post the rollback of Article 370 and now due to COVID-19 pandemic.”
Shamsu Din Bhat, one of the private school teachers who teaches students at Dedikoote village said that the students were initially informed about this in April but a very low attendance was witnessed but with time, the roll showed unexpected increase after the satisfaction of village people and students.
He said that students were away from schools since last year after the rollback of Article 370, now due to COVID pandemic and that is what encouraged them to take this step to facilitate the students in every possible manner without any delay, who have suffered huge academic losses.
“Classes have been started on community basis under strict adherence of COVID protocols at Dedikote village wherein students irrespective of School background are being taught that include, government as well as private run schools to ensure no student suffers for want of education in our entire area,” Shamsu din told KNO.
Bashir Ahmad, another private teacher said that students from Pushwari, Balipora, Karihama, Pazipora, Gatingoo, Dedikoote-Check, Kunan, Villgam and Gushi are being taught in the community classes while the motive was to minimize the educational loss of students.
“Initially in the lockdown we started to teach lower classes and motivated the teachers to visit them regularly to keep them intact with homework and books to ensure that no one roams outside on the streets unnecessarily. But with time and response from parents, all the willing students started to gather at the common place and the roll has now jumped to over 300,” Bashir said.
Bashir said that all these students are their own children and their little concern will secure their future and ensure that they don’t suffer educational losses any further. “We are sure students of our area will shine in times to come,” he said.
The teachers later appealed all the teachers in the Valley to come forward for volunteer community classes in their respective areas. (KNO)