After 35 days of summer vacation, students in Karnataka will be heading back to classes as all schools — State and Central boards — reopen for the academic year 2022-23 on Monday. It is going to be a festive atmosphere in many schools. As per the instructions of the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), all government and aided schools are planning to welcome the students with midday meals, sweets, and even cultural events. The schools will be decorated with flowers and rangoli. The DPI has even set up teams in each taluk to pay surprise visits to schools and examine the arrangements.
Due to the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, schools were closed for nearly two years. Without any physical classes, students had lost learning skills. For recovery of learning skills, the DPI has been implementing ‘Kalika Chetarike’ (Learning recovery) programme for students of classes I to X, and ‘Vidya Pravesh’ for students of classes I to III for those entering the school environment for the first time. Private school managements are planning to implement bridge courses for all the students.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister B.C. Nagesh said, “We successfully conducted meetings with all the teachers, School Development and Monitoring Committee members and local elected representatives in all the districts regarding the grand opening of schools. We got a positive response from everyone. Due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, schools were closed for two years and students have lost their learning skills. To fill this learning gap, the DPI is implementing Kalika Chetarike in all the schools and has already given training to all the teachers in this regard.”
