Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 29: The department of education has released guidelines relating to online education, based on a report on online education submitted by a committee of experts nearly four months ago.

The department has given clear instructions about holding of classes on the basis of age groups. It has also decided to impose a limit on study hours taking into account ill effects on the eyes of the children due to prolonged presence in front of computer screens.

As per the guidelines, the schools have to follow rules when providing online education. For holding online classes till the second standard, presence of parents is compulsory. With the parental permission, classes can be held in the presence of other adults.

Based on age groups from first to fourth standards, maximum of four sessions can he held. Up to the second standard, teaching can be conducted on alternative days. After third standard, online classes can be held for a maximum of five days in a week.

The order says that synchronous and asynchronous sessions have been permitted. The online classes from pre-primary to tenth standard should be in the form of interaction. From the pre-primary to second standard, children should be taught with limited classes covering games, stories, rhymes, and curiosity-based activities. From third to fifth standard students, 25 percent syllabus and 75 percent general subjects. for sixth to eighth standard students, 50 percent syllabus and 50 percent general subjects and for 9th and tenth standard students 75 percent syllabus and 25 percent general subjects.

The department has noted that the media has come out with reports about ill effects on the health and eyesight of the children because of some schools which conduct online classes for more periods of time. In view of these reports guidelines have been prepared, and educational institutions violating them will be prone to action under different provisions of Karnataka Education Act 1983, warned minister for primary and secondary education, S Suresh Kumar.

Online class timings

1. Pre-school - 30 minutes - one period.
2. First to fifth standard - 2 periods of 30 minutes each per day.
3. 6th to 8th standards - 3 classes of 30 to 45 minutes each.
4. 9th and 10th standard - four periods per day.