Bandhs: Most schools to make up for loss of learning hours with online and holiday classes

Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru: The three bandhs called in the state in September, though for genuine causes and for the pressing needs of Karnataka, have led to a loss of learning hours and schools and other educational institutions have decided to reschedule thier educational programmes to make sure students do not bear the brunt.

Earlier this month, Karnataka witnessed a bandh that resulted in over 10 lakh private vehicles and corporate buses going off the roads.

The bandh called by Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Associations led to most schools remaining closed to ensure the safety of their students. Students have been forced to miss exams and other educational activities and parents no doubt, are a worried lot.

Many schools have resorted to online classes to ensure that students continue to receive education.

There are also schools and colleges which have decided to conduct classes on Saturdays and are even planning to cut short the Dussehra vacation which is scheduled to happen in October and usually extends for a week.

On Friday, all schools and colleges wil remain closed with Kannada organisatiosn caling for a state-wide bandh to protest against the release of water to Tamil Nadu despite the South-West Monsoon being deficit and the dams not filling up.

A similar holiday was declared on Tuesday for schools in view of the Bengaluru bandh. In addition to the academic impact, the bandh calls have also disrupted the transportation system, making it difficult for students to commute to school.

As the security of school and college students is imperative, the state government needs to ensure that the education of students is not compromised.

“We have given discretionary powers to the school managements considering their situation. We have asked the District Commissioners to take a call so that school schedules are not disrupted. The Dussehra holidays have to be reworked. The management of schools have to compensate for the loss”, says D Sashi Kumar, General Secretary of Association Management of Schools in Karnataka (KAMS).