No live online classes for students up to class 7: Karnataka Education Minister

Schools in Karnataka have now been instructed to not conduct any live online classes for students up to the 7th standard, keeping in mind their mental well being. 

The Karnataka government has directed all the schools across the state to stop conducting live online classes for students up to the seventh standard. 

Earlier, the Karnataka government had decided to not allow online classes till 5th standard. However, later it revised its decision and extended the ban on online classes till the 7th standard.

“Online classes shall not be conducted for pre-primary (LKG, UKG) and primary classes (up to Class 7) henceforth. Such classes will not substitute classroom teaching and might affect the students’ age and mental well-being,” Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said.

He also asked private schools do not charge any fees for conducting online classes. However, he allowed them to conduct pre-recorded classes.

Meanwhile, live online classes will be allowed to continue for secondary classes, Suresh Kumar clarified in Bengaluru after meeting different stakeholders of the education system.

The move comes after a report submitted by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) had claimed that online live classes are not ideal for students below six years.

“It is not appropriate for children up to the age of 6 years to have more than an hour of screen time daily,” experts had said.

Responding to criticism from experts that online classes would not be feasible for all across the state, due to financial and infrastructure-related challenges as well, Suresh Kumar said, “It is also important to ensure the gap between ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ does not increase.”