Page 27 - English12 | Activity book-3
P. 27
THEME 3 APPENDIX
10 Conveying the News 12 GRADE
th
Covid-19: The Indian “Like everywhere else in
Covid-19: The Indian
“Like everywhere else in
children who have
children who have India, schools have “As schools started
“As schools started
India, schools have
forgotten how to read
forgotten how to read remained shut since March reopening in some
reopening in some
remained shut since March
and write last year when the country states, economist Jean
and write “Radhika, 10, “Radhika, 10,
states, economist Jean
last year when the country
struggles to write the
struggles to write the went into lockdown to curb Dreze met Radhika and
Dreze met Radhika and
went into lockdown to curb
alphabet after 17 months of the spread of Covid-19. 35 other children in her
alphabet after 17 months of
35 other children in her
the spread of Covid-19.
being out of school. Radhika
being out of school. Radhika Affluent private schools and village to assess learning
village to assess learning
Affluent private schools and
Kumari holds her chalk
Kumari holds her chalk their students switched to loss in underprivileged
loss in underprivileged
their students switched to
with determination, almost
with determination, almost online classes seamlessly, communities. The survey
communities. The survey
online classes seamlessly,
willing the letters out of her but government-run schools took into account learning
willing the letters out of her
took into account learning
but government-run schools
mind onto the black slate. have struggled. And their materials and extra classes,
mind onto the black slate.
materials and extra classes,
have struggled. And their
But they tumble out slowly
But they tumble out slowly students teacher visits, online
teacher visits, online
students—often with no often with no
and she misidentifies many laptops or smartphones and learning and parents'
and she misidentifies many
learning and parents'
laptops or smartphones and
of them. Radhika is trying to patchy access to the education level among
of them. Radhika is trying to
education level among
patchy access to the
write the Hindi alphabet, a
write the Hindi alphabet, a Internet other things.”
other things.”
Internet—have fallen have fallen
simple task for most 10-year behind.” BBC, 28.08.2021
simple task for most 10-year
BBC, 28.08.2021
behind.”
olds. But, she says, she is
olds. But, she says, she is BBC, 28.08.2021
BBC, 28.08.2021
struggling because it has
struggling because it has
been 17 months since she
been 17 months since she
attended a class, online or
attended a class, online or
offline.”
offline.”
BBC, 28.08.2021
BBC, 28.08.2021
“The pandemic has also
“The pandemic has also “Ms Subramanian suggested
“Ms Subramanian suggested
widened the gender gap in
widened the gender gap in that as schools reopen,
that as schools reopen,
learning. Some families
learning. Some families teachers should spend
teachers should spend
can afford to pay for
can afford to pay for
time with children in fun
“In Jharkhand, a largely after-school classes, but time with children in fun
“In Jharkhand, a largely
after-school classes, but
group activities to assess
tribal, poor state where most choose to send only group activities to assess
tribal, poor state where
most choose to send only
their learning levels without
Radhika lives, this digital their sons. This isn't unique. their learning levels without
Radhika lives, this digital
their sons. This isn't unique.
putting additional pressure
divide is stark. Her family is
divide is stark. Her family is Many Indian parents choose putting additional pressure
Many Indian parents choose
on them. "Classroom
Dalit (formerly untouchable)
Dalit (formerly untouchable) to invest in their son's on them. "Classroom
to invest in their son's
education will have to be
and at the bottom of a education because they education will have to be
and at the bottom of a
education because they
tailored to where the child is
deeply discriminatory
deeply discriminatory hope to be supported by tailored to where the child is
hope to be supported by
on their learning curve, else
Hindu caste system—as is as is
Hindu caste system him when they grow on their learning curve, else
him when they grow
many of these children will
most of the village. There
most of the village. There old many of these children will
old—daughters, on the daughters, on the
just not be able to cope,"
is no Internet in her tiny other hand, are wedded into just not be able to cope,"
is no Internet in her tiny
other hand, are wedded into
she added. Radhika's eyes
village in Latehar district.
village in Latehar district. another family and leave she added. Radhika's eyes
another family and leave
light up at the thought of
Government or
Government or home. Data shows that light up at the thought of
home. Data shows that
going back to school. She
state-owned broadcasters poor parents are more likely going back to school. She
state-owned broadcasters
poor parents are more likely
said she has missed "playing
have been running to enrol their daughters said she has missed "playing
have been running
to enrol their daughters
and studying" the most—in in
educational shows in in government-run free and studying" the most
educational shows in
in government-run free
that order. "I will open the
some states, but that's
some states, but that's schools, while saving up to that order. "I will open the
schools, while saving up to
locked door and finally sit at
still inaccessible for many send their sons to cheap locked door and finally sit at
still inaccessible for many
send their sons to cheap
my desk.”
communities.”
communities.” private my desk.”
private schools.” schools.”
BBC, 28.08.2021
BBC, 28.08.2021
BBC, 28.08.2021 BBC, 28.08.2021 BBC, 28.08.2021
BBC, 28.08.2021
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