COVID-19 puts Vidyagama scheme on hold

Bengaluru: Vidyagama scheme launched by the Education Department will come to a halt as 34 students attending classes under the programme in Belagavi and Kalaburagi tested positive for the Coronavirus, informed Education Minister Suresh Kumar.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Education Department had launched Vidyagama, a continuous learning plan for children.

Under this learning plan, which also promotes self-learning in children. Special attention was given to out-of-school and specially-abled children, while food materials of the midday meal scheme were sent to the homes of government and aided schoolchildren.

Under the plan, every school formed a virtual class with 20-25 students and had appointed a mentor. Based on the geographical area of their residences, children were grouped from classes 1-5 as one group, 6-8 as another, and 8-10 as yet another. Parents and children were guided to continue their self-learning at home making use of the learning materials provided.

However, a day after reports of over 30 children in Belgavi district testing positive for Covid-19 emerged, the state primary educatidepartment has decided to put a halt on this scheme for time being.

Suresh Kumar also informed that the department will seek to know the cause of infections.