No Schools till 31st July - Instructions on Online Classes - Private Schools - Fee Hike Etc Guidelines. Rc.No.151/A&I/2020 Dated:09/07/2020  School Education – COVID -19 pandemic – Alternative Academic Calendar for Primary, Upper Primary and Secondary Stage developed by NCERT – Communications & Certain instructions – Issued. The NCERT guidelines along with the Alternative Academic Calendar to be communicated to all managements with instructions to take necessary action according to the Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT till reopen of schools. In case CBSE affiliated institutions, the institutions shall adhere to instructions issued by CBSE from time to time.

No Schools till 31st July - Instructions on Online Classes - Private Schools - Fee Hike Etc Guidelines

Sub :  School Education – COVID -19 pandemic – Alternative Academic Calendar for Primary, Upper Primary and Secondary Stage developed by NCERT – Communications & Certain instructions – Issued.

Ref: 

1. G.O. Rt.No 317, Health, Medical & Family Welfare (B2) Department, dated 02.07.2020.
2. Letter D.O.No.1-2/2020-IS.5 dated 6th July,2020 of the Secretary, DSE&L, MHRD, GoI.


ORDER:

• All the Regional Joint Directors of School Education and District Educational Officers in the State are aware that in the reference 1st cited Government have issued “Unlock 2.0” guidelines for phased reopening in the State. In that guidelines it was stated that Schools, colleges, educational and coaching institutions will remain closed till 31st July, 2020. Online/distance learning shall continue to be permitted and shall be encouraged.
• 2. In the reference 2nd cited, MHRD, GoI has requested the states to ensure compliance and strict implementation of the guidelines on closure of schools and colleges, and direct all concerned authorities for their strict implementation.
• 3. Further, Department of School Education has taken certain initiatives in order to ensure school preparedness and to facilitate learning during COVID-19 pandemic and as a part of the initiatives video lessons are being telecasted through Doordarshan for classes I to X since June, 2020.
• 4. Certain complaints have been received by the Hon’ble Minister for Education, Principal Secretary to Govt., School Education department and the Commissioner of School Education that the private unaided schools are insisting the parents for school fees, online classes fees etc., for the academic year 2020-21 and also certain allegations have been leveled on private school managements for abnormal hike of school/tuition fees for 2020-21. Complaints are also received stating that the private unaided schools are holding tests to the children and declaring the marks, ranks etc, as part of their curricular activity.
• 5. The academic year 2020-21 has not yet commenced due to COVID- 19 pandemic and the academic calendar for 2020-21 is under preparation taking into consideration, the tentative working days and the reduction of the syllabus without affecting the learning outcome.
• 6. In this context, the NCERT has taken a new initiative of developing an Alternative Academic Calendar for primary, upper primary and secondary stages. Following the calendar, students of all classes can receive school education systematically at home with the help of their teachers through available technological and social media tools till their schools reopen. NCERT has released a 4 week alternative calendar for primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary stages in April 2020 and now released a 8 week alternative calendar for primary stage. The calendar provides guidelines to teachers on the use of various technological tools and social media tools available for imparting education in fun filled, interesting ways which can be used by learner, parents, teachers even while at home. It has taken into account the varying levels of access to such tools-mobile, radio, television, SMS and various social media. The fact that many may not have internet facility in the mobile, or may not be able to use different social media tools such s WhatsApp, face book, twitter, google etc., has also been taken note by NCERT and hence the calendar has been formulated to guide the teachers who are expected to further guide parents and teachers through SMS on mobile or through voice call. NCERT expects parents to help elementary stage students to implement the calendar.
• 7. Hence parents of Primary, Upper primary will be guided by teachers about the activities to be conducted with children using mobile phones, SMS, Radio, T.V or various other social media. These activities are related to their syllabus and learning outcomes prescribed and teachers will also be able to guide student by establishing contacts with them through mobile phones or social media, and this calendar has been developed by the NCERT in such a manner that it provides adequate space to the state contexts.
• 8. Further, the department of School Education in Andhra Pradesh has already developed bridge course material for 10 weeks for primary stage children and the material has already been distributed to the children and the same is being used from June onwards. Further all the headmasters and teachers have already been requested to develop such material for children from Class VI to X also under the guidance of SCERT.
• 9. Further in case of CBSE affiliated schools, CBSE is communicating necessary guidelines to those schools from to time.

10. Therefore, all the Regional Joint Directors of School Education and District Educational Officers in the State are requested to follow the instructions given below:

1. 1. The NCERT guidelines along with the Alternative Academic Calendar to be communicated to all managements with instructions to take necessary action according to the Alternative Academic Calendar of NCERT till reopen of schools. In case CBSE affiliated institutions, the institutions shall adhere to instructions issued by CBSE from time to time.
2. 2. To ensure that no private un aided school should commence their regular academic activities until reopening of schools. They shall not conduct any weekly or monthly examinations nor take up any assessment and they shall not declare any marks for the performance of the children based on such tests. 
3. 3. To ensure all the academic activities which are being done by the private school managements with respect to COVID – 19 pandemic should be aligned with the Alternative Academic Calendar as suggested by the NCERT.

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