#EducationMinisterGoesLive: CBSE exam paper checkers need not teach

NEW DELHI: The Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has said that teachers who are engaged in evaluation work of CBSE Class 10 and 12 answer sheets will not be engaged in other academic or non-academic activity.

HRD minister said that he will soon hold a meeting with the University Grants Commission on the dates for conducting the National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) June examination.

He also said that the government is working on making all the 32 education channels of ‘Swayam Prabha’ available for students of rural areas free of cost on DTH. Pokhriyal held a webinar with teachers to understand their challenges during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

This was his third, after ones for parents and students.

Overburdened teachers
Some teachers raised the concern of being overburdened with work related to evaluation and also carrying out daily classes. Reshu Jain, asked how evaluating papers and teaching can be done together. Pokhriyal said that teachers who will receive answer sheets for evaluation will not be engaged in the teaching. He also asked Jain and others to inform CBSE if any teacher is facing this problem to get the issue addressed. While answering the question of another teacher he said that over 1.5 crore answer sheets are to be evaluated and teachers who are engaged in the evaluation work will not be engaged in any other work, including preparing new academic curriculum or calendar.

Online classes, reopening schools
A teacher asked about the opening of schools after lockdown due to COVID-19. The HRD minister said: “Whenever the schools will reopen, it will be done with proper guidelines,” he said.

A teacher spoke of challenges his colleagues are facing in holding online classes as they have no had prior training. Pokhriyal said that the government will be training 42 lakh teachers in delivering training to teachers in holding online classes. The government is running Nishtha programme for schools teachers and Arpit for teachers of higher education institutions.

He also said that teachers whose recruitment process was completed before the lockdown was announced, will be recruited once lockdown is lifted.

Last week on May 5, the minister had conducted a webinar for students understanding their concerns related to delay in academic schedule, examination. He also announced that the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main exams will be conducted from July 18 to 23 and JEE Advanced will be conducted on August 23 while the NEET-UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Under Graduate) exam will be conducted on July 26.

Pokhriyal has asked teachers to share their queries on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #EducationMinisterGoesLive. He has also requested teachers to let him know if there is anything specific they would like him to cover during the webinar.

Also read:

• Class 10, 12 CBSE Board exams to be conducted between July 1 and 15
  
• HRD Minister’s webinar with VCs postponed
  

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