After Uganda, Indian schools shut for longest time: Unesco

NEW DELHI: India, according to a Unesco report, is the second country after Uganda where

offline schools

were shut for the longest period during the

Covid onslaught

, the

Lok Sabha

was informed on Monday.

"...The report, however, does not mention the methodology used in the study and the source of this data is stated to be a study by a non-governmental organisation," said Annpurna Devi, junior minister for education, in response to a written question raised in the Lower House.

The ministry of home affairs in September, 2020 had said states and UTs may take a decision in respect of

re-opening of schools

. It said the decision shall be taken in consultation with the respective school or institution.

"The pandemic has affected the education system not only in India but across the world due to closure of schools. This also led to a situation where the Centre, states and educational institutions had to adopt online technologies and a blended mode of education at a very rapid pace to ensure continued education," she said.

The minister also informed that when digital facilities were not available, the ministry arranged community radio stations, podcast (Shiksha Vani) of CBSE, textbooks, worksheet supplied to residence of learners, among other measures.