Issues With Home-based Learning Programme in MP | 06 Aug 2020

Why in News

Only 30% students in government schools of Madhya Pradesh (MP) have been regularly reached through the Hamara Ghar, Humara Vidyalaya programme.

Key Points

• Hamara Ghar, Hamara Vidyalaya Programme:
  
  • It is a home-based learning programme launched by the Department of School Education, MP.
  • It aimed to reach 22 lakh students after shutting down of schools due to Covid-19 pandemic.
  • The idea behind the programme is to ensure that students study regularly at home and also learn life skills from their elders.
  • Under it, the modular programme airs on Doordarshan Madhya Pradesh on fixed time slots. It has three parts to it which are recap, delivery of a new concept and practice of the concept.
  • Various concepts in the form of videos, practise sheets and quizzes are delivered in sync with TV programmes through WhatsApp-led Digital Learning Enhancement Program (DigiLEP).
• Issues Highlighted:
  
  • The programme was able to reach only around 30% of the total students from 18^th July to 25^th July.
    
    • 20% of students were reached through TV and 10% through WhatsApp.
  • Families of 30% of the students do not have TVs or smartphones having an internet connection to avail of the study material.
    
    • In families where smartphones with internet connections are available, parents often take them to work with them.
  • The remaining students were not able to avail the study modules on a regular basis breaking the learning flow.
  • Reaching to students in the 89 tribal dominated blocks in districts such as Alirajpur, Barwani and Jhabua is a task in itself.
• Suggestions:
  
  • Students need to be divided into various groups according to the availability of TVs and phones with the working connection, in sync with PRAGYATA guidelines.
  • If a family has a phone, it should be used by all of its children for their studies.
  • Those who have a TV, they must watch the telecast during fixed time slots on Doordarshan.

Way Forward

• The new National Education Policy (NEP) has a section on digital education to ensure “equitable use of technology”. Private players can make e-resources accessible and available to students under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
• The definition of the right to education needs to expand and promote online education so that it addresses the importance of connectivity and access to knowledge and information.