Page 57 - EW August 2021

solutions you devised to deal with ment and financial loss, we had to
the challenges of online learning continue to pay teacher and staff
and prolonged closure of schools? salaries, invest in online technol-
Initially as we transitioned ogy as well as maintain the infra-
to online learning, we faced structure of our eight schools.
resistance from all stakeholders. To walk this fine line, we offered
We had to create a climate for our parents deferred tuition pay-
remote learning by striking a ment options, broke down fees into
balance between parents’ expec- smaller instalments and reduced
tations, students’ co-operation fees for extra-curricular activi-
and teachers’ capabilities. We ties. Simultaneously, we started
devised acceptable protocols for working on slashing administra-
these important stakeholders. tive expenditure. Despite all this,
Every detail starting from lesson we are still dealing with many fees
planning, guest lectures, assess- defaulters.
ments, libraries, lab experi- to work hard to create a 360 degree
ments, PTMs etc, were adapted to programme for them. Since children What are your plans to manage the
continuing pandemic disruption?
the online mode. could not come to school, we sent The first step is to work proactively
The second challenge was to train the school to their homes. Today,
our frontline workers — teachers — parents of our pre-schoolers have towards devising strategies to reopen
for the world of virtual education. acknowledged these efforts. our schools. We are working on de-
We found that younger teachers were tailed plans and protocols to ensure
faster at adapting tech tools. With Many state governments have issued safety of our students and staff,
their co-operation we created online fees reduction diktats in the pandemic making up for learning loss, train-
platforms for peer learning and col- year. How have your schools coped with ing teachers and students to work
laboration across all our schools. this financial exigency? with our newly designed hybrid/
Initially, parents of pre-schoolers It has been a roller coaster ride. blended teaching-learning model and
in particular were sceptical about the While we understand that some of maintaining financial sustainability
efficacy of online schooling. We had our parents have suffered employ- to manage further disruptions.
Sachin Vats invited from parents and new support systems such as
our Study-Buddy System and Angel Parent Commu-
Founder, Gurukul e School, Ghaziabad nity were devised to enable students to adjust to online
learning.
achin Vats is founder-director of CBSE-affiliated Besides, the management has been very sympathetic
Gurukul The School, Ghaziabad which has 2,055 to parents facing financial crises and has supported
Sstudents and 162 teachers on its muster rolls. them in all possible ways.
Degree of satisfaction with the school’s switch Major community service initiatives
to e-learning. The pandemic resulted in launched during the pandemic. Several
closure of schools, but our learning never social service projects such as Project
stopped. I am very satisfied with the swift Lifeline, Mammography camp were
transition to new digital technologies led launched by the school’s Interact
by Gurukul teachers and our students’ Club. We also tied up with Blood
positive response. This has ensured Bank of Ghaziabad and launched the
learning continuity of all children and no Gurukul Blood Bank.
child is left behind.
Plans to deal with future pandemic
Major factors behind Gurukul’s smooth disruptions. We are absolutely future
adaptation to online learning. The most ready. The prime drivers of learning
important was the quick decision of the — our teachers — are fully equipped
management to skill our teachers to use with 21st century digital skills to
new digital technologies effectively. The develop our children’s multiple
school’s Schoolpad ERP enabled teachers intelligences. The management has
to upload learning resources and conduct liberally invested in world-class
assessments. Repeated in-house training sessions digital infrastructure and high security optical fibre
were organised for teachers to devise digitally-enabled networks which seamlessly connect every nook and
pedagogies with the school providing them continuous corner of the school.
emotional, financial and moral support. Therefore, we are ready for reopening with all safety
Moreover, to ease the anxiety of our parents commu- protocols implemented. The campus has been remod-
nity, multiple counselling and orientation sessions were elled with washrooms, water dispensers and cafeteria
conducted by child psychologists, national cyber security and other areas redesigned to ensure minimal touch
experts, and trained counsellors. Regular feedback was and best hygiene and sanitisation.

AUGUST 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 57