Page 51 - EW August 2021

Jagpreet Singh

Headmaster, e Doon School, Dehradun
ormer principal of The Punjab Public School, Nabha, Dr.
Jagpreet Singh is the recently (April 2020) appointed
Fheadmaster of the top-ranked all-boys boarding The
Doon School, Dehradun (TDS, estb.1935).
Degree of satisfaction with TDS’ switch
to the online mode of learning. The
Covid-19 pandemic has posed
many challenges and adversities,
but also provided opportunities to
realise hidden potential. We are
very satisfied with our e-learning
programme as it has opened doors
we raised Rs.20 crore from corporates, trusts and to new technologies-enabled peda-
philanthropists. gogies. TDShas successfully aligned
What’s your advice to under-funded schools and NGOs to its academic programme to new
maintain learning continuity during the pandemic? digital technologies and we have curated a comprehensive re-
Pull out all stops to introduce digitally-enabled vised academic programme delivered through online platforms.
blended learning in your classrooms and knowl- It has proved to be time and cost-effective and has helped to
edge transmission workshops. Digital learning connect students and teachers during the lockdown.
enables you to scale and reach larger numbers of Major factors behind TDS’ relatively smooth shift to online learning.
learners, access wide-ranging content, enables Over the years, TDS built a strong IT infrastructure because
independent self-learning, development of critical the board and management always believed IT would play an
thinking skills, and teacher upgradation. enabling role in education. Therefore when the pandemic hit
Should schools reopen now? How ready is the Vidya us, it wasn’t a shock as we were technologically equipped for
School, Gurugram and other Vidya institutions to conduct the transition. Latest digital software was dovetailed into our
in-person classes? teaching-learning practices.
Yes. It’s high time schools re-opened after the Downsides of online education. Quantum of learning loss. It’s dif-
world’s longest lockdown. Vidya School, Gurugram ficult to estimate learning loss at this stage. However, while the
has already started in-person education for class transition to online learning has been smooth for TDS, being a
VI-XII children with strict Covid protocols because wholly residential school there’s loss of peer and collaborative
children learn best from teachers and peers. In learning. Living, learning and playing every moment together is
our women’s education centres too, we have begun the heart and soul of boarding school education.
twice-a-week in-person instruction.
Whether schools should reopen immediately. TDS’ safety precautions.
Future plans to deal with pandemic disruptions... While we are ready in terms of preparedness, our students’
To prepare for future pandemic disruptions, we health and safety is of paramount importance for us. We under-
intend to equip all our beneficiaries with digital stand that students are missing their peers and would like to
connectivity to ensure continuity of learning. be back on campus, but we place their safety first. Until then,
Simultaneously, we are intensively training and we will continue to provide total online support to our students
upskilling our teachers. Moreover in the broader and look after their mental well-being through online guidance.
community, we will continue with our vaccination
drives, mental health and counseling programmes, Advice to digitally under-served education institutions. In TDS, we
and distribution of Covid care and ration kits to the believe in supporting and embracing schools that need help
poor. in coping with academic and technology challenges. Through
our community service programmes we support and enable
What’s your advice to government to manage the current government schools in our neighbourhood and will continue to
and future pandemic disruptions? provide instructional scaffolding to them through our service
Government must find the resources to digitise all projects. We also encourage all other technologically savvy
public schools as soon as possible and switch them schools to undertake such initiatives.
to digitally-enabled blended learning while under-
taking a nationwide teacher training drive. Advice to government to make up for academically lost ground in
NEP 2020 has strongly recommended liberal, the pandemic era. The pandemic has been an eye opener in the
holistic education with equal emphasis on devel- truest sense. It has reflected the optimism and strength of our
oping life skills, co-curricular and sports educa- citizens to overcome unprecedented challenges. But it has also
tion. The Covid crisis has taught us that teachers, highlighted deep infirmities of our education system. This is a
parents, students can rise to meet all challenges. good time for government to become more proactive in provid-
Government has the option of converting the Covid ing high quality skills education and vocational training which
crisis into an opportunity to contemporise and will enable our youth to improve their employability.
revitalise Indian education.

AUGUST 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 51