Lok Sabha Question No. 71 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-29
Subject: Problems Faced by Students in Corona
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Raghu Ramakrishna Raju Kanumuru, Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 71 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2021

## Problems Faced by Students in Corona

## 71. SHRI KANUMURU RAGHU RAMA KRISHNA RAJU: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  evaluated  problems  being  faced  by  the  spread  of  corona virus in the country;

(b) whether the Government has noticed the side effects on the mental and physical health of the students due to online classes and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  any  survey  has  been  conducted  to  assess  the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of online learning/classes during the lockdown period and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government to get the children out of this situation;

(d)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  long  time  usage  of  mobile  classes  are  reducing  the  hearing capacity of the children and leading to ENT problems; and

(e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  remedial  measures  being  taken  for  imparting  smooth education to the students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) to (e) The  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic  has  had  a  severe  impact  on  school education. Schools  in  many  States  and  Union  Territories  were    closed  as  a  precautionary measure to protect the students from Novel COVID-19 (Corona) virus. This has interrupted the  learning  and  led  to  disruption  of  education  system  in  the  country.  However,  during COVID-19 Pandemic, Ministry of Education held continuous consultations with the States and UTs at various levels to assess the various aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. National Council  of  Educational  Research  and  Training  (NCERT)  has  conducted  a  survey  in  the month  of  July,  2020  with  the  help  of  Kendriya  Vidyalaya  Sangathan  (KVS),  Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to understand the scenario of Online Learning of school students in COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Accordingly, Pragyata guidelines on digital education were issued with a focus on the methodology,  time  spent,  etc.  for  online/blended/digital  education  for  students  who  are presently at home due to the closure of schools.  The guidelines provides sufficient Do's and Don'ts regarding ergonomics and cyber safety. The guidelines are available at :

## https://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload\_files/mhrd/files/pragyata-guidelines\_0.pdf

To provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well-being during the COVID outbreak and beyond, the Ministry of Education (MoE)  undertook  an  initiative,  named,  'MANODARPAN',  covering  a  wide  range  of activities. A Working Group, having experts from the fields of education, mental health and psychosocial  issues  as  its  members,  was  set  up  to  monitor  and  promote  the  mental  health issues and concerns of students and to facilitate providing of support to address the mental health and psychosocial aspects during and after COVID-19 lockdown, through counselling services, online resources and helpline.

Under the extraordinary circumstances,  the  Central  Government  decided  to  provide Mid-Day Meal to meet the nutritional requirements of the eligible children under Mid-Day Meal  Scheme  in  order  to  safeguard  their  immunity.  The  State  Governments  and  Union Territories were advised to provide to every eligible child, hot cooked Mid-Day Meal or Food Security Allowance, consisting of quantity of the food grains as per entitlement of the child and cooking cost prevailing in the State, whichever is feasible, till such time their schools are closed due to Novel COVID-19 (Corona) Virus and also during summer vacation in 2020-21.

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