IT Deptt builds app to connect all schools via virtual mode
The dark press
Jammu, Apr 24: Amid the spike in COVID 19 cases and frequent closure of schools across Jammu and Kashmir, the government here is mulling to make online mode of education a permanent feature in school curriculum in all classes with new apps being created for the purpose.
As schools in Jammu and Kashmir are closed for offline educational activities and children are studying via an online mode, the government of Jammu and Kashmir as per the reports is going to make major changes to create student friendly learning apps for all the schools in the union territory. Login of all schools of the division will be made on the app and that each school will have its own space in it.
Reports informed that the government is naming this application as ‘Simple app’ and it will have complete information about teachers as well as their online classes and lessons. Through this mode of education, children will have the option to watch videos and notes of the subject being taught by their school teacher along with the journal library. The government as per the reports is taking scores of measures to make online studies result oriented in the backdrop of prevalent situation.
The department of Information and Technology has prepared a plan to make the app student-friendly and that first of all, a log-in will be created for all schools. Under this, children will be able to see the subjects being taught by their school teacher on the app directly. At present, however, no such facility was put in place.
Reports inform that the primary level training shall also be imparted to the teachers so that they could use to the application sans any hindrance and make best possible use of it. However, what looks more challenging is that there are plenty of schools which aren’t equipped enough and children from various far flung hamlets may find it difficult to avail the facility of online learning.
There are startling revelations about the dismal state of education in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides the departmental survey, a study done by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has also revealed that nearly 80 percent of the schools in the JK are without electricity connections. Little so far has been done to put a lid over such crisis and while the government ought to take remedial measures without any delay. It has raised concern over why the department isn’t functioning in a digital mode. In the study, ASSOCHAM has listed 10 states with poor electricity supply in schools. Jammu and Kashmir ranks fourth. The states topping the list include Bihar, with just 8.1% of schools having electricity, and Jharkhand (12.0 %) and Assam (15.9%). There are as many as 6000 schools in the state without electricity. The survey has also revealed that 75 percent of schools have no computer labs.
What looks extremely challenging for the government here is to make online learning possible in the areas where quality education, even in offline mode, has so far been a distant dream.