With schools shut in most of NE, Army comes forward to teach

Guwahati, Nov 8 : Apart from defending the frontiers, fighting terrorists, and undertaking rescue missions in emergencies, the Indian Army has now launched coaching for students in the northeast region as educational institutions remain shut for over seven months now due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under “Operation Sadbhavna”, the Army’s Spear Corps has undertaken to conduct coaching classes for students of Classes 9 to 12 in Miao and Kharsang villages of Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, bordering Myanmar.
Defence spokesman, Lt. Col P. Khongsai told IANS on Sunday that the coaching classes were started on Friday and based on their response and performance, the Army would likely to consider introducing similar initiatives in other states of the northeast.
The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected the education of children, with no schools running and classes shifted to online mode, he said, noting that children in rural areas with poor internet connectivity have suffered the most as online classes are often a distant dream.
“Understanding the concern, the aim of this proposal is to ensure that an important academic year of senior children from these remote areas is not wasted due to pandemic, mitigate the anxiety of parents and finally prevent drop-outs.” He said a solemn opening ceremony was conducted at Miao and Kharsang on Friday and was attended by village Samiti President, the Principal of government higher secondary school, Kharsang and teachers of the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Miao.