Chennai: Online classes for the 6,820 Greater Chennai Corporation school students who will appear for the Class X exams from June 15 are in full swing. Teachers were first trained to use the Zoom application and WhatsApp on their phones before they began teaching, said corporation deputy commissioner (education) Grace Pachuau.
The civic body will also begin such classes for those just passed out of Class IX and on Thursday began distribution of 5,000 smart phones procured through NGOs and corporate funding.
Many of those appearing for the exams next month were initially scared. While S Aamina of corporation higher secondary school, Kodungaiyur, who is being raised by relatives, managed to get a smartphone, a few others weren’t as lucky and still use the basic model phone. “They will be given smart phones soon,” said Grace Pachuau.
“On the first day of class,” said Divya Priya, “there were internet connectivity issues and some difficulty in using the application. But slowly we got used to it.” Lokesh Kumar said it was a different experience. “We were all interactive and soon got the hang of it,” he said.
R Vijayalakshmi, a mathematics teacher, said most students were from economically poor backgrounds. “We interacted with them and their families. We also helped many with groceries. The class strength was not 100% but it is slowly growing,” she said.
Juliet Gnanathepam, headmistress of Chennai Higher Secondary School on Thiruvottiyur High Road, said many students could use phone only before 9am and after 6pm and classes were scheduled accordingly. “It is going really well as students excitedly share pictures of their homework, drawings, graphs and maps,” she said.
Volunteers of Teach for India, an NGO, trained the teachers on the usage of Zoom app and also provided smartphones to students. Several other NGOs and corporate entities are tying up with corporation to help these students, said Grace.
Assistant education officer, V Munian said they wanted their students to be on par with others in the state. “There will not be any misuse as it is all in the way we train them,” he said.