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As I have understood it, the key into blackboards and roads into
lies in planning and proper execution classrooms during the Coronavirus
of the gap year. pandemic are brilliant innovations
Pranesh T. on email with the potential to uplift and edu-
cate many underprivileged children.
May your tribe increase!
Teachers irreplaceable Sridhar Sharma on email
I AM A regular reader of EW. With
schools reopening across the coun-
try, I am sure children are thrilled Change math teaching
to return to in-person classes after In the March issue, I liked reading
two years of online learning. I believe the EW Research & Analytics feature
face-to-face education is irreplace- on Countingwell’s State of Math
able with teachers playing the impor- Learning Report and the reasons for
tant role of mentoring children. declining maths learning outcomes.
A teacher doubles as a friend, It’s sad that a country which
MARCH 2022 counselor and mentor especially in produced math geniuses such as
challenging times — not possible Aryabhatta and C.V. Raman is strug-
in online teaching-learning. Great gling to get its children interested
Mental health focus call teachers inspire, guide and challenge in maths. We need to change the
KUDOS FOR a well-researched, their students to realise their poten- theoretical and boring way maths is
timely and optimistic cover story ‘10 tial and succeed in life. To them all, taught and train teachers to teach
post-pandemic recovery solutions’ we should be ever indebted. through experiential methods such
(EW March). These days all we read Jubel D’Cruz as puzzles and games so that chil-
are stories of gloom and doom and MUMBAI dren can understand its application
how children will take decades to re- in real life.
cover from the learning loss suffered Himali Sharma
during the world’s longest schools Govt. viewpoint please LUDHIANA
lockdown. AS MUCH as I appreciate your cover
In particular, solution #10 draws story (EW March) for drawing up an
my support and appreciation as I education recovery roadmap post- Online exams appeal
believe that children’s mental health pandemic, your solutions are lacking. YOU MAY be aware that sev-
and well-being have been woefully I expected much more detail. More- eral private autonomous colleges
neglected in the pandemic years. over, I have noticed that most of your in Mumbai (including Sophia’s and
Given the social stigma associated cover stories have limited comment K.J. Somaiya) have taken measures
with seeking psychological counsel- from government spokespersons. to conduct third year undergradu-
ing, the government must ensure Especially when anganwadis and ate degree final exams in the online
that every child has access to the mid-day meals make up the subject mode to ensure fair assessment of all
proposed Child Mental Health Mis- matter, it is only fair for government their students, including those who
sion. Moreover, as children return to officials to be quoted. This will give live out of town. On the other hand,
classrooms, school teachers should your magazine more credibility. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai refuses
be trained to provide mental health Sandhya Ghose on E-MAIL to conduct online exams.
support and emotional mentoring. Students from other colleges who
Rajiv Singh Perhaps because of the Union educa- write online exams will undoubtedly
JAIPUR tion minister’s inaccessibility, it’s fare better. Students of St. Xavier’s
very difficult to access government will suffer the stiffer challenge of of-
spokespersons — Editor fline exams resulting in a variance in
Gap year revelations final results. This will directly impact
YOUR SPECIAL Report ‘Incremental our future.
popularity of gap year’ (EW March) Brilliant innovations Kindly publish this appeal to
was interesting and informative. EDUCATOR DEEP Narayan Nayak’s persuade our college administration
It was an eye opener especially for education initiatives for rural chil- to fall in line and also conduct online
middle class households like ours dren are inspirational and com- examinations.
who believe taking a gap year is sim- mendable (People, EW March). Students of St. Xavier’s College,
ply a waste of time. Turning walls of village homes Mumbai

14 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2022