Kathmandu.

During a virtual discussion on the “Role of Media in Implementing Alternative Learning” held today, the Minister of Education, Giriraj Mani Pokharel urged the schools not to re-open immediately as it would be very difficult to contain the Covid-19 spread. He requested schools to focus on the alternative learning methods and to rely on the use of digital technology.

He mentioned that the government in order to ensure minimum learning has developed a contingency action plan and has started implementing it from the third week of September. The teachers are advised to reach out to the concerned schools at all the local levels. He further added that the communication facility linking teachers, parents and students have been enhanced without any charges in the community schools.

Similarly, private schools have been facilitated by binding them into Close Unit Group (CUG). In response to which, the schools of some districts have already started direct learning by maintaining social distance. Communication expert, Dr Nirmal Mani Adhikari has asked the government to provide free high-speed internet for underprivileged students as efficient information literacy is essential to the competitive learning system.

Noman Kishor Yadav, executive director of Aasaman Nepal, reported that the latest study conducted in State-2 have shown that 51 per cent of children have access to such technologies, however the level of learning that has been achieved is only around 20 per cent. This should be further increased through the role of media.