Shillong: In these times of pandemic, which has led to closure of all
educational institutions, the President’s National Award winning
teacher from Meghalaya this year, Rahul Chatterjee, assistant
lecturer in physics at the reputed Jail Road Boys’s Higher Secondary
School, Shillong stressed on ‘remote teaching’ tactics, especially
for students in the remote rural areas, where Internet connectivity
is weak and availability of smart phones is an issue.
“The ball is really in the teacher’s court. If a child is unreachable
by Internet and all the online means, then one has to think of other
means. The term we use ‘online teaching’ is limited in its scope,”
says Chatterjee, who has been acclaimed by chief minister Conrad K
Sangma for being conferred with the prestigious award.
“We should rather say ‘remote teaching’. What this entails is that
teacher and student are far away from each other and yet learning –
teaching happens,” he says, adding that there are various ways to do
this.
“A teacher can send notes across directly to the student or the
students who can’t be reached online can collect the notes from the
school, where the teacher has left it. Lessons can be imparted
through radio, TV or even conference calls. Materials can be sent by
post too,” he points out.
“The limitation is our imagination. This is the right time to create
intrinsically motivated children who take charge of their own
learning and the need is only to guide to keep them on track and
clear doubts. Such children are like learners who take responsibility
for their own learning and take pride in their work. They set self
targets and achieving them is their reward,” the acclaimed teacher
says.
“So, teachers must rise to the occasion and take up the challenge to
ameliorate the learning loss among the children,” Chatterjee
underscores.
Meanwhile, Chandrima Bhattacharjee, principal of the Jail Road Boys
HS School, who showers praises on Chatterjee for bringing laurels to
the state, says, “It is a moment of pride for Meghalaya as well as
for the school for recognizing his contribution in the field of
education”.
On the other hand, the State education department will hold a review
meeting to discuss the reopening of schools next week, education
minister Lakhmen Rymbui said.
However, with spike in Covid cases in the state, especially in East
Khasi Dills District, which includes Shillong, there is apprehension
in the minds of the parents and people in general, regarding
reopening of schools