The alternative academic calendar developed by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), gives special direction for teaching disabled students.
The calendar proposes teaching through audio books, radio programs, video programs, so as to assist such students in learning at home. The plan necessitates teachers to give clear and sufficient verbal and visual instructions to all students, especially students with special needs.
Parents and teachers, with the regular mapping of progress, are required to put in efforts to make students “self-learners”, the plan suggests. As per the directives, an appropriate worksheet is to be assigned to the students for sustained learning.
Earlier, NCERT has released alternative calendars for students of studying in primary (Class 1-5), upper primary (Class 6 -8) and secondary level (Class 9-10) to facilitate uninterrupted education during the lockdown period. The academic calendar prompts teachers to educate the students with the help of technology and social media at home.
During the coronavirus lockdown, schools across the country are increasingly adopting alternative methods like online resources to teach the students.
The plan promotes the use of social media such as SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Twitter as well as Google mail and Google Hangouts. Links of online resources developed by the ministry of Human Resource Development are also provided.
