Examiner Bureau | Jammu:
The Directorate of School Education Jammu (DSEJ) has directed all government schools across the Jammu division to remain in a constant state of readiness for hybrid teaching, making it mandatory for institutions to seamlessly transition to online classes whenever schools are temporarily closed due to adverse weather, natural disasters, emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances.
In a circular issued on July 25, Director School Education Jammu said that offline classes would continue to remain the primary mode of instruction. However, schools affected by temporary closures must immediately switch to online teaching to minimise academic disruption, while institutions in unaffected areas, including district headquarters and municipal limits, will continue regular offline classes.
The Directorate emphasised that preparations for online teaching must be maintained throughout the year and should not begin only after closure orders are issued.
To ensure seamless implementation, every Head of Institution (HoI) has been directed to prepare and periodically update a School Online Education Readiness Plan. The plan will identify teachers responsible for each class, communication channels, available digital resources and procedures for activating online instruction. Each school will also designate a School Nodal Officer to coordinate technical support.
Under the new guidelines, every teacher, master and lecturer must be capable of conducting live online classes, sharing digital learning material, assigning and evaluating student work, maintaining attendance and monitoring academic progress through digital platforms approved by the Directorate. Heads of institutions have also been asked to organise orientation programmes, practical training sessions and periodic mock drills to ensure teachers can transition to online instruction without delay.
Teachers have been instructed to prepare syllabus-aligned lesson plans, presentations, worksheets, assignments and other digital learning resources in advance. The material should be age-appropriate and accessible to students with both high- and low-bandwidth internet connectivity.
Schools have also been directed to establish reliable, class-wise digital communication systems for sharing timetables, joining instructions, study material and official notices with students and, where necessary, their parents or guardians. Institutions must regularly verify and update contact details to ensure effective communication.
Students are to be familiarised with online classroom procedures, digital etiquette, cyber safety, attendance requirements, classroom interaction and assignment submission well in advance. Parents, particularly of younger students, are also to be sensitised to support regular participation in online learning.
To ensure inclusivity, Heads of Institutions have been asked to identify students who lack access to digital devices or internet connectivity and, wherever feasible, provide alternative learning support through printed study material, offline resources, telephonic academic assistance or community-based facilities.
The circular further directs schools to follow the regular timetable as far as practicable during online classes, with age-appropriate session durations and adequate breaks. Detailed class schedules specifying subjects, teachers, timings and syllabus coverage must be shared with students.
Online classes will be conducted only through digital platforms approved by the Directorate. Schools have also been advised to divide larger classes into smaller batches, where necessary, to improve interaction and learning outcomes.
Teachers will be required to maintain verifiable records of online classes conducted, student attendance, topics covered, learning material shared, assignments, assessments and feedback. These records will be reviewed by Heads of Institutions and made available for inspection whenever required.
The circular also lays down an activation protocol requiring Heads of Institutions to immediately notify staff, students and parents of the online timetable once temporary closure orders are issued and ensure that virtual classes commence without avoidable delay. Online teaching will continue until normal offline functioning is restored by the competent authority.
For monitoring, Heads of Institutions have been directed to review online classes daily, track student participation, resolve technical and accessibility issues and conduct periodic preparedness drills even during normal school operations. Chief Education Officers (CEOs) will supervise implementation in their respective districts, provide academic and technical support and submit compliance reports to the Directorate as required.
The Joint Director, School Education, Jammu, has been entrusted with monitoring implementation of the Hybrid Teaching Model, while Ajay Kumar, Nodal Officer, VSK Jammu, has been designated to provide technical support for its rollout.
The Directorate said the guidelines are aimed at ensuring uninterrupted teaching and safeguarding students’ academic interests during any temporary disruption to normal school functioning.
