New Delhi (NVI): In a bid to keep students learning during their stay at home due to COVID-19, the Ministry of Human Resource Development today launched an Alternative Academic Calendar for upper primary stage (Classes VI to VIII).
Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released the academic calendar in New Delhi. This will enable students to engage meaningfully during the lockdown through educational activities at home with the help of their parents and teachers, the Ministry said.
The alternative academic calendars at primary and upper primary stage (Classes VI to VIII) have been developed by the NCERT under the guidance of the MHRD.
Earlier on April 16, the Alternative Academic Calendar for the primary stage was released.
Speaking on the occasion today, Pokhriyal said that this calendar provides guidelines to teachers on the use of various technological tools and social media tools available for imparting education in fun-filled, interesting ways, which can be used by learner, parents and teachers even while at home.
While preparing the calendar, the varying levels of access to tools like Mobile, Radio, Television, SMS and various social media, were taken into account, the Ministry said in a statement.
“It is a fact that many of us may not have internet facility in the mobile, or may not be able to use different social media tools- such as whatsapp, facebook, twitter, google etc, the calendar guides teachers to further guide parents and students through SMS on mobile phones or through voice call. Parents are expected to help elementary stage students to implement this Calendar,” Pokhriyal said.
The Minister added that very soon all the remaining classes i.e., IX to XII and subject areas will be covered under this calendar. This calendar will cater to the need of all children including Divyang children – link for Audio books, radio programmes, video programme will be included.
The calendar contains week-wise plan consisting of interesting and challenging activities, with reference to theme/chapter taken from syllabus or textbook. Most importantly, it maps the themes with the learning outcomes.
It also covers experiential learning activities such as Arts Education, Physical Exercises, yoga, pre-vocational skills, etc. This Calendar contains class-wise and subject-wise activities in tabular forms. This Calendar includes activities related to four languages as subject areas, i.e., Hindi English, Urdu and Sanskrit.
