Kerala child rights panel orders CBSE to limit online class session to 30 minutes

The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights ordered Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools in the state to ensure each session of the ongoing online classes does not exceed 30 minutes. The Commission also directed schools to provide breaks of 15 to 30 minutes after each session.

This new and welcoming development comes in wake of a complaint filed by parent of a student wherein they complained that the long and frequent use of mobile mobiles from 9 am to 5.30pm for online classes and then without a break spend hours for homework and other co-curricular activities is taking a toll on children. Majority of them are undergoing mental stress and also adversely impact their vision.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led schools across the country to embrace online learning and it is uncertain when schools can reopen. CBSE had earlier informed that online classes will go on for this academic year until further notice.

Prolonged exposure to digital technologies may affect children, hence authorities have been forced to look for ways to limit its dependency by creating age-appropriate schedules.