With Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s consent, online classes and telecast of video lessons on television channels will not be conducted from September 21 to 25″, Sengottaiyan said. (Express photo)
Tamil Nadu Chennai Coronavirus News Live Updates: In a respite to school students attending online classes in the state, the Tamil Nadu government has announced a five-day break from September 21 to reduce their stress and help them refresh.
School Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan had announced last week that a brief vacation has been planned for the school students to help reduce their stress. “On normal occasions, students are provided quarterly and half-yearly holidays. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools had to switch to online mode of teaching. With Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s consent, online classes and telecast of video lessons on television channels will not be conducted from September 21 to 25,” he said.
Also Read | No shift-based classes when schools reopen: Tamil Nadu Education Minister
All the schools, including private institutions, will be monitored by block-level officers to check whether classes are conducted during these five days, the Minister added. On the Centre’s standard operating procedures (SOP) for partial re-opening of schools for students of classes 9 to 12, Sengottaiyan said consultation would be done after the COVID-19 situation improves in Tamil Nadu.
Also Read | About 40% school syllabus reduced in Tamil Nadu for 2020-21: Education Minister
Commissioner of School Education Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan wrote to all Chief Educational Officers (CEOs) in the state directing them not to compel students to attend online classes. Teachers have also been asked to ensure all students, who have been absent from online sessions, are suitably coached and brought on par with other students when the schools reopen.
School Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan.
The Tamil Nadu government ruled out shift-based classes when schools reopen across the state and said all the classes would start functioning simultaneously. Hinting that there will not be any phased reopening, state education minister K A Sengottaiyan said schools across Tamil Nadu will open simultaneously once the pandemic situation is brought under control.
READ | No shift-based classes when schools reopen: Tamil Nadu Education Minister
“All classes will start functioning simultaneously when schools reopen in the state. There will not be classes in shift, as all the schools have adequate infrastructure,” he told reporters here on Saturday.
Also Read | Understanding between Palaniswami, his deputy like one between Lord Ram, Lakshman: Minister
The schools are equipped with sufficient numbers of classrooms to ensure the social distancing norms, he said. Schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu have been closed since March when lockdown was announced to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
Also Read | Tamil Nadu: Not just PM-Kisan, fraudsters may have targeted other schemes too
Abdul Aziz (56), popularly known as the ‘Statue Man’, is a popular figure in Tamil Nadu. Standing stationary at the entrance of the VGP theme park, he has attracted the attention of lakhs of visitors over the past 35 years. He is one among many entertainers struggling without a regular income ever since the lockdown was imposed in March.
READ | After 37 years, pandemic may make Chennai’s famous ‘statue man’ move on
Having started his career as early as 1985 at the VGP Universal Kingdom Theme Park in Chennai, Aziz is now thinking of quitting and looking for other sources of income.
Tamil Nadu Chennai Coronavirus September 18, 19 Highlights
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tamil-nadu-coronavirus-news-live-updates-chennai-covid-19-lockdown-online-classes-edappadi-aiadmk-dmk-stalin-6604279/
