A writ petition has been filed in Andhra Pradesh High Court urging the court to direct the authorities to issue specific guidelines for the conduct of classes using different modes of virtual technologies (online) for the academic year 2020-21.
The petitioner, Dr NB Sudhakar Reddy, noted social worker from Tirupati, questioned the inaction on the part of Government in not issuing specific guidelines for the conduct of online classes for the students of Private Unaided Schools in the State in the light of present health emergency thrown up by the corona pandemic and lockdown announced by the Government.
Stating that the lockdown is being extended from time to time and there is total uncertainty for the same, Dr Reddy said continued closure of the educational institutions would adversely affect the mental growth of the children if some form of taking classes is not introduced.
Dr NB Sudhakar Reddy
The petitioner also reminded the court how parents and students associations highlighted the absence specific and uniform guidelines for imparting the coaching to their wards through virtual mode despite the fact that the educational institutions have become defunct and there is no clarity as to when the regular schools would start functioning for the academic year 2020-21.
“Even the admissions for the academic year 2020-21 have not taken place in view of the continuous lockdown and the activities have come to standstill. This has resulted in several pupils going under depression since there are no physical or mental activities all these months,” Sudhakar Reddy said in the petition.
Referring to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi circular issued on April 4, 2020, that asked the schools to adopt the online teaching methods, Dr. Reddy wondered as to how the authorities in Andhra Pradesh instead of issuing guidelines for the conduct of online classes, are instructing the managements not to conduct virtual classes.
In the all-around interest of the student community, the petitioner urged the court to direct the authorities to promote the online classes or virtual classes by issuing specific guidelines.
