Subarnapur’s Innovative Shikhya Setu Bridging the Digital Divide by Reaching Out to School Students Devoid Of Online Classes

Subarnapur: It is said that where there is a will there is a way. The proverb has been proved true by the Subarnapur district administration led by Collector Aboli Sunil Naravane, which has committed itself to reach out to those school students who are devoid of the online education facility during the pandemic period.

The Shikhya Setu program, being implemented by the Education Department calls for the teachers to visit to the houses of school students to teach them and to advise their parents on various issues that are arising in the learning process because of the pandemic.

This unique initiative will help in the holistic development of the students who are presently not going to school because of the closure due to Covid-19 restrictions and depending on study from home and online classes. As there are many issues starting from technical difficulties to connectivity issues and lack of mobile devices, the Shikhya Setu Program has come as a great tool for the students.

The administration has taken up the initiative in 184 schools in the first phase which will be expanded in the coming days to whole of the district after getting feedback and response. More than thousand teachers will visit to the homes of about 26000 students under the Shikhya Setu program. As part of this, village level awareness camps will also be organized to sensitize the parents about their roles and responsibilities in educating the children.

According to Collector Aboli Sunil Naravane, ”The aim of this initiative is to ensure that not a single student is left out of his/her right to get good education. We are trying to reach out to each and every student during the difficult times of pandemic. The teacher student connect program will prove its merits when the schools again reopen and the students feel familiar with the situation.”

The primary focus of this initiative will be on those students who have no means of online education during this pandemic period. While it will bridge the digital divide, it will also bring closer the students with their teachers.

The response to the initiative has also been tremendous. While at some places, the teachers are going to the houses, in other places, the village community halls and schools are used to make small gatherings of students adhering to all Covid appropriate behavior.