Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Secondary School Teachers' Association (OSSTA) has opposed the live streaming of classes on YouTube platform which kicked off today across the State for primary and secondary students.
While emphasising on the conduct of classes through television, the teachers’ body alleged that the novel idea of the State government to stream online is expensive and it would cause mental burden on students during the pandemic times.
OSSTA general secretary Prakash Chandra Mohanty said uninterrupted internet connectivity is required to carry out the online classes through YouTube.
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“Students of class IX and X will remain on-line for around six-eight hours a day for which a big data pack is required for uninterrupted internet connectivity. Where would they (students and guardian) get money to recharge data pack during thr pandemic times," Mohanty asked.
It would be expensive for the students and guardians as well, he said.
Mohanty further alleged that the online process of teaching was claimed to have reached 20-22 per cent students across the State during the first wave of the Covid pandemic while the reality was completely different. The new mode of teaching actuallly touched less than 10 per cent of the students in rural areas and 20 per cent students in urban areas, he claimed.
Despite the realities, the State government planned for online classes through YouTube channel which is not widely accepted. The fresh move of the government has put teachers in quandary, he added.
Mohanty also raised doubt over the quality of education through YouTube classes. He said the students would be deprive of quality education due to the new initiative. There is also a greater possibility of mental stress on the students due to YouTube classes, he pointed out.
"So, classes through television are cost effective and better than other modes of teaching during pandemic," Mohanty said while proposing remedial classes by the teachers to clear doubts of the students.
Notably, the Odisha government has kicked off live streaming of classes on YouTube platform for students from Class I to Class X from today.