Suicide over phones: HC asks State to factor in online edu challenges faced by govt students

A division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha sought another report on how best other modes of education through local TV channels and recorded programmes could be included with online classes.

The bench also wanted the government to respond on whether any assessment has been done on the accessibility of gadgets and how they are going to impart education in rural and hilly areas where connectivity could be an issue.

Leading the bench, Justice Sundresh sought details on the government’s plans to regulate private schools. He said though the two main actors in the process are the children and parents and the school, the government has to play a regulatory role in creating uniform methodology of dealing with problems. On suicides of three girls in Chennai, the bench said, “We need fair play between private and government schools. Practical difficulties like four children in a household ought to be considered and a methodology ought to be evolved and the guidelines implemented in letter and spirit.”

The advocates appearing in the batch of writ petitions seeking to evolve guidelines before commencing online classes, also suggested the process of intermingling modes of education so that children do not lose out on classes. It was also pointed out that along with virtual classes, recorded content could be shared through WhatsApp too.

Additional Advocate General Naramadha Sampath, appearing for the State, said the government is working towards a positive learning strategy that would augur students’ learning experience. She noted that the guidelines evolved are based on the universal practice of learning that has emerged owing to the pandemic and care has been taken to ensure that TN doesn’t fall back. The plea will again be heard on Thursday.