Pic: Teachers at a school in Sadalaga, where SSLC students are staying overnight and studying; officials take stock of studies at a girls’ hostel in SadalagaBelagavi: Chikodi educational district launched a special night-study initiative for SSLC students under DDPI RS Sitaram. Students in low-performing schools will stay on campus at night and study under trained teachers and coaches. Once ranked among the state’s top 3, the district aims to regain its past excellence through this effort.The schools in Belagavi and Chikodi educational districts ranked in the top 20 in the state in the SSLC results last year. Earlier, schools in both educational districts of Belagavi district were in the top 10 in the state. The School Education and Literacy Departments took strict steps to improve results by prioritising teaching and learning in schools. Officials started guiding SSLC children by staying overnight in govt, aided, and unaided high schools that obtained the lowest results. They are instilling courage in the children.In Chikodi educational district, there are 1,919 govt, 310 private, and 610 aided primary and high schools. Out of the 607 high schools in Chikodi educational district, 194 are govt high schools.Chikodi educational district previously obtained good results and secured 1st position in the state three times. With the hope that the district will again secure 1st position, the department took a new step.The coaches and trained teachers are staying in govt, aided, and unaided high schools with the lowest results in 8 zones of Chikodi Educational District: Chikodi, Nippani, Hukkeri, Athani, Kagwad, Raibag, Gokak, and Mudalagi. Special classes are being conducted during the stay. Special education experts are teaching. Children living in extreme poverty are being provided with accommodation in the school and are being given meals and snacks.According to officials of school education and literacy, the education department has identified children who are lagging behind in learning. Also, a message is being spread in the villages to switch off TV and mobile phones from 8 pm to 10 pm until the SSLC exam. The schools are holding classes at night. The self-confidence of children is increasing as teachers and children study together at night.The education department and the respective high schools jointly provided security and basic facilities at night in the boarding schools. Chikodi assistant commissioner Subhash Sampagavi and tahsildar Rajesh Burli also supported the initiative through participation.Seetaram RS, DDPI, Chikodi, said that, in order to achieve better performance by students in the SSLC examination, academically backward children are being taught by skilled teachers.Leelavati Hiremath, DDPI, Belagavi, said that many steps were taken in the Belagavi Educational District as well. They started Oduva Mane (Reading House) in residential schools. Special teachers will guide the children from 4pm to 10pm every day. For safety reasons, class sessions for girls will be limited to 8pm only.
