HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal says he hopes to open schools soon

Dr Pokhriyal, who gave a detailed talk on examination and other education-related issues in a live interaction with teachers, parents and students under the 11th edition of Shiksha Samvad here, encouraged the students in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.

He said, "I want to assure all of you that you will soon return to your school life and continue the teaching process."

Dr Pokhriyal also attempted to remove all apprehensions about the board examinations and syllabus from the minds of the students. However, on the reopening of schools, he said the Department of School Education and Literacy had issued SOPs/guidelines for their reopening. These guidelines were concerned with the health and safety and educational aspects related to the transmission of learning and education along physical/social distance. Apart from this, given the current health scenario in the state, the state governments concerned would take a decision in this matter, he said.

The Union Minister said, "I am very happy to say that through these series of dialogues, you got an opportunity to know the suggestions and ideas of all of us, with the help of which we were able to make many decisions and in future also suggestions will help us decide.

"However, after the last dialogue, a lot has changed since as the results of the board have been announced, many students have also participated in competitive examinations, the cutoff lists of colleges have also been released and the new academic session has begun. The way we have progressed successfully by adopting to change, the entire credit goes to the education system."

The Union Minister also told everyone about the work done for digital education by the Ministry of Education in the Covid times and said in view of the enthusiasm of the students, a comprehensive initiative like PM E-Vidya under the self-reliant India campaign has started, which is benefiting about 33 crore students going to school with the help of digital/online/radio.

Talking about programmes like Deeksha, Swayam, Swayam Prabha, IIT Pal, Shikshavani Podcast, Sign Language, he said that all these programmes made education accessible and easy.

He said, in this transition period, while the world was busy in the process of patchwork through adjustment and addition to its educational system, India had laid the foundation for the creation of a new future through the new education policy.

"This policy is your future vision document, which gives you a clear and far-sighted view so that you can decide your own future. It will also give you options and opportunities."