Online classes not mandatory, govt tells HC

The submission was made before a division bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice R Hemalatha, before whom exhaustive arguments were made in a batch of writ petitions seeking to streamline online education mode.

In response to the queries raised by the bench regarding mechanism in place for implementation of the guidelines, the scope of pre-recorded classes and arrangements for students in rural areas who could suffer from connectivity and equipment issues, Additional Advocate General Narmatha Sampath submitted that the Director of Matriculation Schools has been appointed as the facilitating authority to ensure that complaints at all levels were addressed, with strong focus on ensuring the mental and physical health of the children.

Holding or participation in online classes were not mandatory and it was for individual schools and parents to decide on the medium, be it online or pre-recorded, the AAG said, “The purpose of online classes is also to ensure that the students are able to interact with their peer group and teachers in a bid to ensure their psychological health, since pre-recorded classes would not enable such interaction.”

To ensure that rural students and those in the hilly areas were not left out, the State has ensured relay of education modules through Kalvi Tholaikatchi and few other such channels, with the timetable being distributed to the students in advance, she added. AAG Narmatha Sampath also clarified that a mere two hours of online classes with 10 to 15 minutes break per class has been scheduled for secondary level students. None can be compelled to attend the classes or the same used for any financial or grading purposes, she said.

“The present process is only an interim arrangement and indications are rife that the schools would be reopened in a couple of months,” she added.

Considering the submissions made by the counsels regarding time-bound redressal, creation of support and helpline numbers, and also to account for cyber bullying which has not be dealt with in the guidelines, the bench reserved its orders without mentioning a date.