Virtual school can not be “wholesome substitute” for classroom learning, says AIDSO

The introduction of the Delhi Model Virtual School was dubbed “anti-student” on Saturday by the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO), which further claimed that the action will “destroy the foundation” of the educational ecosystem.

Online learning is never a “wholesome substitute” for in-person instruction, the organisation claimed in a statement.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, announced on Wednesday the opening of the Delhi Model Virtual School (DMVS), which he called “India’s first such platform” and said kids from all around the nation would be eligible for admission.

The school is for grade 9-12.

The AIDSO statement stated that the step by the chief minister would ensure ‘revolutionary changes in education’, but his past actions tend to portray a different picture altogether, where in around 50 public schools were shut down

It was stated that education is not just about “cramming data” and “hoarding degrees,” but also about a child’s overall growth.

The statement also added that “Young minds need social connections with teachers and other students to develop. Furthermore, as has already been seen during the lockdown period, free online education would deepen the gap between wealthy and poor student”

According to the AIDSO, computer-simulated labs can never be a useful teaching tool for science courses with a practical component.

It  also claimed no new teachers have been recruited for the new model.

It also asked that if the government teachers take up this position, who will fill the vacuum created parallelly in the public schools?”

The application process for the 2022-23 academic session of the DMVS has started and students can apply through www.dmvs.ac.in. Any child aged between 13 and 18 who has completed Class 8 from any recognised school can apply for admission in Class 9.

(With inputs from PTI)

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