In an all-new series titled Students’ Corner, EducationWorld speaks with Abhinandan Adhikari, Head Boy, Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, Vasundhara, Ghaziabad about his likes and dislikes, passion and the pandemic stress. Here are the excerpts: 

Presently, is your school conducting offline classes?

 Currently, Seth Anandrm Jaipuria School is following the latest notification issued by the Uttar Pradesh state government and not conducting offline classes until February 15. However, post that, the school has announced that it will conduct the next cycle of examinations in an offline mode to prepare students for the upcoming CBSE Board Examinations.

What is the general preference amongst students regarding attending school and re-shutting of schools amidst the new surge of Covid cases?

Students at Jaipuria are eager to come back to the classrooms owing to the healthy atmosphere offered by the teachers and to the lively environment where students take part in various co-curricular and extracurricular activities like debate, sports, and drama.

It’s understood now that some disruption may occur whenever the medium of education changes. But, students here do understand that their health is being prioritized above all and have shown cooperation by attending online classes regularly. On the other hand, teachers have also ensured that there is no gap in the learning process and have tried to provide as many resources as possible.

 

Have you understood the National Education Policy 2020 & its takeaways? What is your take on it?

Yes, I have thoroughly read, analyzed, and understood the National Education Policy 2020. The framework promotes multidisciplinary holistic learning, scientific temper, peer tutoring and puts special focus on machine learning, AI, smart apps, sports, games, and all-round health.

This policy was much needed, as the last policy which was adopted in 1986 had been 34 years old and did not represent the desires of a modern student and the needs of the current market. The NEP 2020, is a positive step in the right direction that has been taken by the government to make India an Aatmanirbhar county in its true sense.

The only concern that I, as an avid observer and a passionate critic, have is to look towards its implementation, as any policy that does not translate from theoretical terms to practical reality does not fulfill the aims and aspirations of the citizens and students in a rapidly growing young nation.

Since there has been little time for revision of the previous year’s syllabus and the pandemic has caused disruptions in continued education, how do you think the learning gap can be bridged?

 It is very difficult for a student to memorize and remember the vast content present in the textbooks. Therefore, it is extremely important to make notes of the value points, as that would help in recollecting the essence of a particular topic. In this way, the students would only have to remember the main points of an answer enabling them to score more. The teachers can simultaneously conduct regular class tests on different topics which would help the students to analyze their progress and remember the topics by heart.

The student council representative is one of the most coveted positions in schools. How are you carrying out your responsibilities online and amidst the virtual classes? How is it different as compared to the pre-covid times?

 Surely, being a member of the student council and in fact, the Head Boy is of immense pleasure and delight. In this past year, the whole student council and I have successfully organized the Jaipuria MUN (attended by more than 250 delegates from 6 different countries), Mélange (the annual inter-school fest), and the school Founders’ Day program. Apart from these major events, several inter-house competitions and workshops on various topics like Mental Health, Stress, and Anxiety were also conducted for the students.

The experience has been very different from the pre-COVID times, as earlier the students used to make all the necessary arrangements for the event day, which included – contacting several resource persons, coordinating with teachers, contacting the participants and their respective teacher in-charges amongst a hundred other responsibilities. With the shifting of these events to the online mode, the work has certainly reduced significantly along with the fun and enjoyment the students have amongst themselves during the making of these events.

Going by reports, even after re-opening not many students are attending in-person classes. What has the response been like in your school? Is online learning a preferred choice?

 The senior administration at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School has taken all possible precautions to ensure the safety of the students and this includes regular sanitization of the classrooms, conducting routine check-ups, and organizing vaccination camps for the students. A majority of the parents have faith and confidence in the administration and a lot of students were and will be attending classes in the offline mode in the coming days. 

Online learning has its pros and cons and is certainly the need of the hour considering the repeated waves of the Covid pandemic, but, certainly is not one of the most desired medium of education amongst students as it is stressful and monotonous for a student to sit for six hours in front of a computer screen and it also does not provide the environment that only a classroom can.

 According to you, what is more viable at this stage? Is returning to physical classes a better option or a continuation of the online ones?

 As per my analysis of the current situation, online classes must continue for at least some more time, as the downward plunge in the number of cases per day has just begun. Returning to physical classes would be a better option when we have an upper hand over the pandemic. This can be done through speedy vaccination and following strict Covid safety protocols both at home and on school campus. Students also need to be more responsible if they want to return to physical classes.

 How has the journey been from March 2020? What changes did you/your friends have to incorporate to continue learning during the pandemic?

 My friends and I have been social and extroverts from the beginning and we used to meet a lot, play, and hang out even after and outside the school. Since March 2020, none of us got many opportunities to meet physically, so we decided to shift to Zoom, where we can interact virtually on a day-to-day basis. We still make fun of each other, crack jokes, and laugh together, but somewhere that emotionally overwhelming feeling is missing which only comes when we meet our friends and give them a tight hug.

 How were your practical classes (lab sessions) managed during the pandemic?

 Being from a Humanities section I don’t have the subjects that require one to visit the lab to perform an experiment or learn something practically, but, I do have a lot of friends who are pursuing either PCM or PCB and I must say all of them are highly satisfied when it comes to practical learning.

The subject teachers and the lab assistants have used online resources like TATA Class Edge and several online videos and modules to engage the students. Also, whenever COVID restrictions were relaxed the students got the opportunity to visit the school’s practical labs in small batches. In this way, I must say that the lab sessions were perfectly orchestrated by the teachers and the school management.

 How did you make up for the missing peer interaction? Have you managed to stay connected with your friends?

 Social media interaction was the only possible way for me to stay connected with my friends during the pandemic. I have managed to communicate and interact with my friends using WhatsApp, Instagram, and Zoom by exchanging text messages and using the video call feature. During these tough times, I lost connection with a lot of friends, and my social circle, like a lot of people, has shrunk drastically as compared to pre-Covid times.

 There have been last-minute changes in exam patterns, evaluation criteria, etc. How did you deal with this?

 Seth Anandram Jaipuria School provides us with a detailed explanation and analysis of every notification and circular that is issued by the CBSE. Also, the teachers inform our parents about the particular details, in this way we build a better understanding of the new developments. Further, the internal exams which are conducted in our school follow the latest exam pattern and evaluation criteria because of which we get enough practice and get comfortable with the pattern which is expected to be followed in the Board Examinations.

 What does the government need to do to support children during the pandemic as classes have gone online?

 During the pandemic, many students have faced emotional and mental stress of varying degrees because of various reasons like losing someone in their family or reduced social interaction. This has resulted in anxiety and depression amongst a majority of the students. The government should coordinate with the school authorities in both the public and private sector to organize workshops and personalized counseling sessions where the students can openly and freely share their problems and feelings with someone who truly tries to understand and guide them.

In the absence of in-person interaction with teachers, how do you keep abreast with the latest career options or higher education prospects available to you currently?

Career counseling at Jaipuria was never restricted to in-person communication. Our school provided us access to various career research platforms which help us to look up colleges and diverse career options. Our school also has a professional career counselor, who helps and guides us through the whole process.

Also, there are immense resources available on the internet regarding everything that one must know, whether it is related to applying to international colleges or preparing for entrance exams in Indian universities like – IIT, NLU, and IIHM.

I, myself, have applied to several colleges in the United States and the United Kingdom for different courses in International Relations and Law and I used the above-mentioned resources. I must say the entire process was quite smooth and easy.

How did you cope with exam stress? Did you have access to a counselor who could help you through difficult times?

 Exam stress is a very serious problem among students these days and is a problem that even I have faced at times. I recall panicking and my hands shivering badly when there was a time crunch and I still had a couple of questions remaining. To cope with this stress I tried and learned several techniques to increase my focus and concentration span and this has helped me improve and overcome the stress.

Our school does have counselors to help students guide during such difficult times. However, I personally never approached the counselors, not because of any fear or shyness, but because I felt I received enough support from my close friends and family.

How are you preparing for competitive exams? Are you attending post-school tutorials online?

I am preparing for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), which is the pathway towards entering the National Law Universities. I have been preparing for this exam for the past two years and I attend post-school tutorials online four days a week.

 Also Read: Online mode only out of necessity: Ananya, Neerja Modi School