The Chandigarh Teachers' Association (CTA) has formally opposed a recent directive from the education department mandating remedial classes for students during the upcoming winter vacations. The association has submitted a detailed memorandum to the district education officer, which is addressed to the director of school education, urging a complete review of this decision.
Ground Realities Ignored, Say Teachers
In a strong representation, CTA office-bearers highlighted that the department's letter ordering remedial classes during the break lacked adequate consideration of practical ground realities. The delegation included key members such as legal adviser Arvind Rana, general secretary Ajay Sharma, joint secretary Anil Kumar, treasurer Parveen Kaur Mann, and member Monika.
They argued that the primary purpose of declaring winter vacations is to protect young students from the harsh and severe cold conditions. Forcing children to attend school during this period could potentially expose them to various health risks, defeating the very reason for the seasonal break.
Travel Plans and Low Attendance Concerns
The association pointed out another critical logistical issue. Many teachers and students have already made advance travel plans for the vacation period. A sudden directive for offline classes causes significant inconvenience and disruption to these pre-arranged schedules.
Furthermore, the teachers expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of holding physical classes during a holiday period. They warned that attendance during such compulsory sessions is likely to remain very low, which would ultimately defeat the core objective of providing meaningful remedial academic support to those who need it.
Online Mode Proposed as Viable Solution
Instead of offline classes, the CTA has put forward a practical alternative that has proven successful in the past. The representatives suggested that the education department should shift the remedial teaching sessions to an online mode, as was effectively done during previous years.
Emphasizing their willingness to cooperate, the teachers stated they are fully committed to supporting departmental initiatives aimed at improving student academic performance. They proposed that if additional support is essential, teachers can dedicate extra time to help students catch up once schools reopen after the vacations.
The memorandum is a formal request to the education authorities to reconsider the current plan for offline classes and instead adopt a flexible online format for remedial teaching during the winter break, balancing educational goals with the well-being and convenience of both students and educators.
