Learning loss: Govt teachers go the extra mile

Learning loss: Govt teachers go the extra mile

Sruthy Susan Ullas & Farheen Hussain TNN

Bengaluru:29.01.2021

From the time the nationwide lockdown was imposed, educationists had warned of serious learning loss in children if schools remain closed for a long time. With children back on campuses now — regular classes for grades 10 and 12 and Vidyagama sessions for grades 6-9 — those fears have come true.

When asked by the principal of his BBMP-run school, Kishan (name changed), a class 10 pupil, said: “I can’t recall the multiplication table for three.” The principal told TOI: “Learning loss is real. We have to teach them from scratch. Even before Covid, we had to put in a lot of effort and things have gotten worse since the lockdown.”

The school has now assigned a mentor for each child. The principal said that while the lockdown made it worse, the problem began because of the no-detention policy. “Last year too, there were no exams and all students were promoted,” the principal said.

Other schools too are taking extra measures to bridge the learning gap. Teachers say allowing schools to function for a full day will help complete the syllabus and schools can then start revisions.

Raju B, principal, Sir M Visvesvaraya BBMP Public School and Composite PU College, said students were unable to follow lessons when they returned to schools. He said most students had either returned to their villages or were busy with other things and did not have the time to study. “We have been teaching them from the first chapter and we make sure to go back to topics whenever a student asks,” he said.

The loss, teachers point out, is mainly in maths and science, especially with formulae and multiplication tables. “Unlike parents in private schools, our children do not get help in academics from their parents,” said Jayalakshmi G, a teacher in the higher primary section of a government school in Kalkere. “Many of them have had no association with studies in these 10 months. It’s out duty to start at the beginning with them.”

The head mistress of a government high school in East Bengaluru, said: “With such a long gap, we did expect children to forget what they learnt in previous years. Our one hour class is now divided into two: Thirty minutes is spent on refreshing portions from the previous years while the other 30 goes into teaching competencies of this year.”

But children being children, teachers believe they will learn fast. Most lessons are taught through activities. “They quickly grasp and recall. That’s a relief,” said Sharadamma, head mistress, Government Higher Primary School, K Channasandra.

Students too are thrilled they are back on track. Gautham C, a II PUC commerce student in Sir M Visvesvaraya BBMP Public School and Composite PU College, said returning to the campus has been the best thing that has happened. “We had lost touch with everything and were worried about facing exams. It’s a relief that schools reopened,” he said.