Bhubaneswar: With no immediate plans of reopening offline classes in Odisha, the government is at a quandary at the new turn of events. The viewership of the Odisha School Education Programme Authority’s (OSEPA) YouTube classes, which was launched at the elementary level a month ago, has nosedived by around 38 per cent.
The average number of views was 4.35 lakh for all online live classes for I to VIII standard students on June 23. The figure has dropped sharply to 3.2 lakh on July 16.
Around 42 per cent decline in view was recorded in Odia and mathematics subjects for first to eighth standard students, reported The New Indian Express.
Also, the total views of live Odia classes plunged to 3.62 lakh on July 16 compared to the June 23 count of 6.26 lakh. Odia subject’s average views used to be close to 78,000 which has dwindled to nearly 45,000.
The viewership slipped from 81,100 to 46,900 for mathematics subject during the time frame. It has come down to 44,800 on July 16 from 65,200 on June 23.
Despite 22 lakh students having internet access in Odisha, this declining trend of attendance for online classes is a matter of serious concern and defeats the whole purpose of the government’s digital learning process, feel the educationists.
According to the former director of elementary education, Chudamani Seth, the digital views can only shoot up if parents having internet facilities get actively involved and encourage their wards to attend the classes from home, TNIE report said.
Odisha’s School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash also assured to have a look into the matter and take appropriate steps.
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