Kathmandu, July 9

The alternative teaching underway as schools remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic has not been counted in the new academic session.

The alternative teaching through the use of internet is only a continuity of the children’s learning as they are limited within their homes for a long period, the Education and Human Resources Development Centre has said.

The new academic year usually starts in the first week of the month of Baisakh in the lunar calendar. However, it has been affected due to the outbreak of Corona Virus this year.

Speaking at a virtual discussion on alternative teaching practices and the role of local level here today hosted by the Community School Management Committees Federation Nepal, Director of the Centre Madhav Prasad Dahal said the new academic year has begun through alternative method but that is not a regular class, and it has not been integrated into the evaluation system as yet.

“Considering the disparity between students who have access to internet and who don’t, audio visuals, text books and self-reading materials have been developed and sent to the students,” he said. During the discussion, education officers of various local levels of Sindhuli shared that alternative learning facilitation and monitoring was being practiced in the district.

Chief of the District Education Development and Coordination Unit Netra Gajurel said secondary education examinations, preparation classes for Grade 10 were being carried out in collaboration with 14 radio stations in and outside the district. “A homework package has been implemented in areas with no reach of radio and telecommunications service by mobilizing teachers,” he said.

Federation Chair Krishna Thapa said only 40 per cent of the students have availed of the alternative learning facility and that the facilitation guidelines developed by the government did not see enough pre-consultation.

It may be noted that the Education Ministry has issued the ‘alternative method students learning facilitation guidelines, 2077, which came into effect from June 15.