Telangana E-Learning for KG to PG Levels to Start from 1 July

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has announced that online classes will begin on 1 July 2021. Thus, the 2021-2022 academic year will begin in an online format in light of constraints placed by COVID-19. TS Education Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy has commented on the decision in an interview, expressing the need to adapt. Additionally, the state’s Minister revealed the initiative to conduct classes online for students from the primary to the postgraduate level.

The Telangana government had initially planned to reopen schools and facilitate offline learning on 1 July. However, the lingering intensity of the pandemic has yet to diminish, and so schools remain closed. Hence, Education Minister Reddy has issued a government order for private schools to collect tuition on a monthly basis.

Telangana E-Learning During COVID-19

Preventive measures taken by the state government have been criticised by several via social media, citing over caution. However, several experts concur that the decision to continue online learning in Telangana is the safest measure. The state reported fewer than 1,000 new coronavirus cases over two consecutive days on Monday, 28 June 2021. Additionally, around 993 infected cases in total on the day had lifted the state to over 6.21 lakh infections. This data seems to signify the abating of the virus. However, the period of early recovery is extremely vulnerable. 

Furthermore, the majority of lockdown policies throughout the world have necessitated the reopening of schools to occur only when safe. Schools, especially for primary students, mimic the dense populations and high mobility of a miniaturised city. Thus, it is remarkably difficult to truly ensure the safety of children, a demographic extremely vulnerable to illness.

Regarding infection concentration, the area overseen by the GHMC, or Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, had the highest number of new cases at 124. The areas of Nalgonda, at 78, and Suryapet, at 72, followed closely after. Thus, most new infections seem to be rebounding through the urban sphere, lending importance to schools remaining closed.