Education blog by Pearson India

  • Tips for Last Month Preparation of JEE Advanced 2021

    Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced, is an academic examination held annually in India for the aspirants seeking admission in one of the premier IITs. JEE Advanced 2021, earlier scheduled to be held on 3rd July 2021, got postponed to 3rd October 2021 due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation. The dates related to registration and downloading admit cards can be fetched through the official website.

    With only a few days to prepare, you must plan carefully so that you can cover the entire syllabus right before the exam. Take a look at last month preparation tips for JEE advanced:


    Plan it out:

    It is always a better idea to plan your studies before. Although only planning does not help if you cannot execute it properly, try to put small goals so that the execution becomes easy. It is crucial to plan your studies by making short term goals for the next 2-3 days only. Don’t plan for the next 2 weeks or 1 month. Very rarely, these long goals get executed as planned. Make targets for what you want to cover in the next 2-3 days and try to follow and achieve them with your best efforts.


    Know the pattern and syllabus:

    Understanding the pattern and syllabus of the exam is very crucial for any entrance examination. When you are familiar with the weightage of even a single mark, marking scheme, questions weightage and types of questions, you can push your preparation in the right direction. When you are this close to the exam, preparing beyond the scope of the syllabus will not help you. Thus, following the prescribed syllabus is sufficient to crack the exam.


    Solve previous papers:

    Try to solve as many question banks and previous years’ question papers as you can to get an idea of the paper pattern. Solving old papers will help you become self-aware of the question patterns and improve your performance. It can also help you understand the difficulty level of the exam.


    Assessment and review:

    You must acquaint yourself with the online mode of the examination and practice the same by solving online mock tests to become exam ready. With the help of these tests, you can improve your speed and accuracy. You can also analyse your preparation level and assess yourself to find your weaknesses and strengths.


    Practice and revise:

    When you are weeks away from the examination, 'practice and revise' should become your Mantra. Try using different approaches to practice and revise. You can make concept maps of each subject for quick revisions. Using flashcards and diagrams can also aid in improving memory and remembering the concepts, formulas, and facts effectively. Taking JEE Advanced mock tests is also a good tool to get used to the exam pattern, type of question, difficulty level of exam, revise and recall the learnt concepts.


    Stay fit and focused:

    The preparation process tends to drain students. So, while you work hard, it is essential to take small breaks and recharge yourself. Apart from studying you must also maintain good health. Taking at least six hours of sleep is advisable. Try to maintain good hygiene and have a proper diet. You cannot afford to fall sick and lose your focus as this is the time to give your best. So, don’t forget to look after your physical health and mental health.


    Refresh yourself and relax:

    While it is important to practice and revise during the last month of your exam, it is equally crucial to refresh your mind and body with some recreational activity like taking a walk or playing for at least 30 mins. You can also perform yoga or meditation in order to relax and maintain focus.


    It is always better to keep a positive attitude while preparing in the last month of the exam and keep the above tips in mind to help you in planning for the remaining few days of the examination.

    Know more about a one-stop comprehensive and reliable content targeted for both Advanced and Main levels of JEE, click here and get familiar with the Pearson JEE Advanced Series. The series introduces the concepts of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in a clear, concise, thorough, and easy-to-understand language. 

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  • UGC NET 2021: Exam Preparation Tips and Important Books

    University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test exam or UGC NET exam is an eligibility exam for candidates appearing for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and/ or the post of Assistant Professor in Indian universities and colleges. It is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA).

    The NET exam is divided into 2 papers. Paper-I is General Aptitude and Paper-II is subject-specific. With only a few weeks remaining to the exam, it is extremely important to have the right UGC NET preparation strategy to ensure success. Though the test is one of the toughest exams in the country, candidates can use some tips to help them perform better. Check out the following tips and important books you can use during preparation:

    Understand your syllabus:

    The first step towards efficient exam preparation is getting familiar with the UGC NET exam pattern and syllabus. UGC NET exam is conducted in two sessions (Paper 1 & 2). Paper 1 will contain general aptitude questions, and paper 2 will be of the concerned subject.You are required to go through UGC NET Syllabus thoroughly. Understand the syllabus completely and prepare each topic accordingly.

    Solve mock tests & question papers:

    Since UGC NET is an online exam, candidates should practise as many mock tests as possible to get familiar with the exam pattern. In addition, it is also crucial to attempt previous years’ UGC NET question papers, as it can give you the real look and feel of the exam, improve your time management skills, help you judge your weak areas and improve accordingly.

    Revise:

    Revision is the most crucial practice in your preparation journey. You have not revised properly and timely, whatever you have studied in the whole can vanish. Hence, revising whatever you have studied at specific intervals is essential. Revision helps you keep the learning intact while preparing for not just the UGC NET, but any other exam as well.

    Make notes:

    Preparing quick short notes is a very effective practice while preparing for the UGC NET exam. For this, you must write down and highlight important points regularly and prepare notes of all difficult topics. Writing note also helps in remembering things easily.

    Time Management:

    Time Management plays a crucial role in UGC NET preparation. It is essential to properly manage time while preparing for the exam and during the exam time. The exam score is a combination of preparation and execution. Hence, the study needs the support of time management for you to utilize your learning and attempt maximum questions during the exam with utmost concentration and focus. 

    Avoid Silly Mistakes:

    "To err is human". It is only natural for human beings to make mistakes and learn from them. But sometimes, silly mistakes are avoidable, and you can learn how to avoid these silly mistakes during your UGC NET preparation so that you do not make the same mistakes during exams. Some avoidable mistakes are - Reading the questions in a hurry, not understanding the question, spending more time on one question, misunderstanding the format of the test etc.

    Stay Updated with current affairs:

    It is important to stay updated with the current affairs and recent news which can be asked in the UGC NET exam, and most importantly candidates must have detailed knowledge about their concerned UGC NET Subject.

    Important books:

    You will find several books available in the market for the UGC NET exam preparation. Some of these are - Trueman's UGC NET/SET General Paper I, NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF Paper I: Teaching and Research Aptitude by Pearson, UGC NET/SET Paper 1 by McGraw Hill Education etc. You may choose the ones that help you prepare more comprehensively and concisely.

    The above preparation tips will help you in your UGC NET exam preparation, and by following the above-given tips, you can easily revise your course in the right way.

    To know more about the study material that clears concepts in a concise and comprehensive manner, click here and get ahead in your preparation journey with Pearson’s UGC NET courseware. Prepared by leading expert faculties, designed, and categorized to help learners to master step-by-step learning and practicing a wide range of topics systematically and help you achieve your desired score in UGC NET/SET/JRF Paper 1 and Paper 2. 

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  • Developing a trained and highly skilled workforce with vocational learning

    We witnessed in recent times how the global economy went through a turbulent state, forcing thousands of people out of their jobs. Many of them never focus on hands-on skills in other trades available across the globe. People who have a skill-based education or training tend to be more employable. This need for skill-based education gave rise to vocational education or training. Vocational training focuses on improving technical skills for a specific job or trade. It offers you practical knowledge in contrast to theoretical knowledge by the traditional formal education system. By learning about various vocational courses, one can choose the right one for their career growth and development.

    What is vocational learning?

    Vocational learning may contain instructional programs or courses that prepare you for a profession that requires a specialised skill, such as a technician, artisan, or tradesperson. It may involve imparting classroom instructions, hands-on training, or a combination of both. Secondary and higher secondary education in India usually comprises one or two vocational subjects. Still, real vocational learning happens outside the formal education system, and it often leads to a certification or a diploma. You may also undergo vocational learning directly as an apprentice or a trainee with or without any formal qualification.

    Benefits of vocational learning:

    Vocational learning helps in developing a trained and highly skilled workforce, its benefits help in job training and career preparation.

    • Development of skill for employability:
      Vocational learning plays a crucial role in skill development and employability. The importance of vocational development can be summed up as the difference between theoretical knowledge and practical skills. In non-vocational studies, students often spend hours of their time exploring a variety of subjects, and as a result, they lack practical knowledge. However, the students who opt for vocational learning get to spend more time in the practical workshops, learning hands-on practical skills related to their chosen field.
    • Graduating with work skills to add value to the education:
      Every employer looks for new employees who have the required skills to do the job well and adapt quickly to the work environment. Businesses spend a significant amount of money trying to hire new employees, as they must go through a training process and expect that there will be a learning curve for the employee on a new job.
    • Opportunity to build a strong social network while learning:
      Everyone knows how important it is to have a strong network that can play a direct role in finding a job and building a successful career. Vocational learning provides students with an excellent opportunity to build a strong network which further enhances their learning experience with their professional careers. The various practical projects and coursework provide ample chances to develop better and closer relationships with classmates, professors and professionals working in the particular trade.
    • Finding employment after graduation:
      Many graduates struggle to find employment immediately after graduation. Students from a vocational learning background have the experience to list on their resume so that the employers can know that they have a significant portion of the training they need. Often, graduates start building a professional network through their job placements and internships.

    Vocational learning and education pave the way for the learners to gain new skills and become efficient with consistent training.

    Pearson understands the value of vocational education to develop a trained and highly skilled workforce and offers Pearson BTEC- a progressive framework of vocational courses and globally renowned qualifications. From fundamental learning to professional courses at the postgraduate level, BTEC offers practical, hands-on learning experiences with necessary skills for every step of the way. Click here to know more about Pearson BTEC and opens doors to diverse career opportunities globally with real-life skills.

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  • Last-Minute Preparation Tips & Tricks for NEET Exam 2021

    National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is one of the toughest medical entrance examinations conducted in India. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate (MBBS/BDS/Aayush Courses) every year. As per the Government of India, it is a mandated requirement to qualify NEET Exam to study medical courses in India and abroad.

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NEET has been pushed forward to September 2021, from May 2021. The decision received a mixed reaction from the students.

    Nonetheless, with only a few days remaining to the examination, the pressure to perform well in the exam is rising in the students. To help you navigate the NEET preparation in these last few days, here are some

    Tips and tricks that you can use while preparing for the exam:

    Relax:

    This is it! You have come a long way in your preparation journey, so the first thing you can do is prepare in a relaxed mood. You have studied months and years for this, have had hectic and stressful days, but being relaxed now, will only make you more focused and less paranoid. 

    Make a revision schedule:

    This limited time can be best utilized by revising the difficult topics, concepts, formulae that you have already prepared. Making a practical revision plan for each subject can be highly helpful in achieving great results. Always try and focus on understanding the concepts rather than mugging them up. 

    Revise while preparing:

    At this point, multitasking should come easy to you, so considering the time crunch, revising the topics on the next day of the preparation is a good idea to boost confidence. For example, if you have studied a particular topic today, revise that topic tomorrow during the second half of your day. This activity also helps you a lot in last week revisions. 

    Avoid distractions:

    Since only a few days are remaining to the exam, nothing should be more crucial to you than dedicating most of your time towards the preparations. Avoid all the distractions and get into your shell. Try to achieve all your daily preparation and revision goals. 

    Attempt Full-length Mocks:

    A lot of energy is needed to take the three-hour-long NEET exam. Familiarize yourself with the exam pattern and measure your progress with full-length mock tests to make yourself better in the examination. Also, work on the previous years' question papers to get the gist of the flow and pattern of questions. 

    Analyse your progress and mistakes:

    Everyone makes mistakes while preparing, and we learn from those mistakes to avoid them in future. Taking the mock test is of no use if you aren't working on your mistakes. Assess the progress of your preparation through online mock tests and clear topic-wise doubts.  Try to devote at least 20 minutes to identify and rectify your mistakes made during the mock tests.

    Maintain a Healthy Diet:

    Don't let it come to you as a shock that why would you need to have a healthy diet to prepare better for the exam. You must be strong and healthy while facing the examination, which is only possible with a healthy diet to get physical and mental fitness. Eat iron-containing foods and foods containing vitamin B to help boost your brain by providing the nutrients it needs. 

    Exercise regularly:

    The aim is to reduce stress by doing regular exercise. Regular exercise or physical activities such as taking a walk, swimming, running, etc., can reduce stress significantly by releasing the natural feel-good chemicals. It will help you to be happier and more productive. Switch to a healthy diet and do meditation and yoga exercises for better concentration.

    Last day tips:

    - Check your admit card

    - Information Brochure of NEET for the time of entry

    - Check the dress code

    - Get a good night’s sleep 

    - Have plenty of water and light food

    - Reach the exam centre well before time

    Keep a positive attitude

    Last but not least, keep a positive attitude. Your attitude determines the effectiveness of your learning process. Having a negative approach will make things difficult. The moment you start thinking positively, your brain will show better creativity and efficiency. The right mindset will also make you feel less anxious and more open to new ideas.

    Making mistakes and learning from them is a part of the process but keeping the above tips and tricks in mind will help you in planning for the remaining few days of the most sought-after medical entrance examination.

    Know more about a one-stop comprehensive and reliable content targeted for NEET, click here and get familiar with Pearson NEET Foundation Series. The series provides a perfect blend of learning through comprehensive theory and a variety of exercises in line with CBSE and NEET patterns. 

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  • 5 Mistakes That Students Make in JEE Advanced Preparation

    To obtain a seat in India's prestigious engineering institutes, such as IITs and NITs, you must get an exceptionally good Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) score. More than 10 lakh candidates appear for the JEE Mains, and about only 23% of candidates get shortlisted for the next stage of the selection process, i.e., JEE Advanced. 

    The reason behind the low number is not just the lack of preparation but also the mistakes made by students during their preparation. It is normal to be anxious but there are certain common mistakes most JEE aspirants commit during the JEE advanced preparation that makes all the difference in the score. 

    Let's have a look at some of the mistakes students make in JEE Advanced preparation:

    Not solving doubts:

    It is only normal and perhaps good to have doubts this phase of your preparations, but it is very necessary to get them resolved or else they will only weigh in and build tension. Students should try to solve any doubt they may have as early as possible. Students can make use of the resources they have to analyse their mock test scores for any mistakes or uncleared concepts, then freely approach the classroom and talk to teachers to clear doubts.

    Not revising:

    Revision is a crucial part of the preparation, hence not revising or keeping revision at the very end of the preparation is a mistake. Revision is an opportunity to evaluate and analyse preparation, check the mistakes, and learn strong and weak points. Revising the whole syllabus at the end is very time consuming; hence, students must divide their time and spend it wisely on their weak areas to improve that part. It is advisable to revise on a weekly basis to retain maximum learning, as science is one subject that requires complete understanding and memorising things.

    Selective focus:

    One of the mistakes students make is studying selectively. Studying for hours, focusing on the topics or subjects they like and ignoring the ones they do not. Some students make the mistake of only focusing on their ‘pet subject’ or revising topics that they are familiar with. But doing so only makes it harder and harder to build competence on subjects they find to be tough. 

    Not analysing their performance:

    While students build a strong conceptual foundation, they often forget to test their understanding by practising problems and taking frequent tests. Timed mock tests push students to solve complex problems and closely follow the examination pattern of the JEE. With these tests, they can learn to recognise and avoid traps laid by examiners. But while doing this, they must not forget to analyse their performance after each test so they can learn from their mistakes. Looking closely at where they went wrong and making a note of silly mistakes may prove to be invaluable in their preparation. 

    Ignoring health:

    One mistake students make which may cost them their preparation, is not taking good care of their health. It is very important to be healthy physically and mentally to retain the learning and keep a sound mind during preparations. Students should keep some time aside for leisure activities, a walk or engage in some exercise to refresh their mind. 

    The above common mistakes students should avoid during their JEE Advanced preparations. 

    To help the students develop a thorough understanding of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Pearson has brought an updated edition of the JEE Advanced book series. Click here and know more about the series that introduces the concepts of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in a clear, concise, thorough and easy-to-understand language. 

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  • 6 Must-Have Habits Which Will Help You Crack UPSC Exam

    UPSC exam or better known as The Civil Services Examination is a nationwide competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission to recruit candidates for higher Civil Services of the Government of India. It is considered to be one of the toughest examinations in India, and cracking it is no easy task. However, with dedicated planning, preparation, and proper habits, you can achieve this herculean task too.

    Let's take a look at some of the must-have habits which will help you crack the UPSC exam:

    Planning:

    Planning may prove to be one of the most crucial habits you can develop while preparing for the UPSE exam. The syllabus of the UPSE examination is vast, and one cannot handle it without proper planning about how much time and attention each subject should get. The planning also includes dividing the subjects into more manageable parts. With planning comes the execution part, which is just as important an aspect of planning. Planning should become a familiar aspect for the aspirant, from planning a timetable to planning a daily, weekly, and monthly study goal, it should become a part of the lifestyle. 

    Practising:

    One thing that cannot be stressed enough in order for you to achieve your goal of cracking the UPSE exam is PRACTICE! Make a habit of practising whatever you have learned while the concepts are fresh to make them stronger than before. With practice, you can assess your level of understanding and perception of the core concepts. Thoroughly practise mock tests for both Prelims and Mains to get a fair idea of question framing, difficulty levels, and time management.

    Developing writing skills:

    Good writing skills are very important for cracking the UPSE examination. Aspirants mainly focus upon the preliminary examinations, which is an objective type test. But in the long-term, developing writing skills is a must as the main examination is a traditional subjective test for which answers have to be written in text. Therefore, if you are serious about clearing the mains examination, you should start developing your writing skills from the prelims stage. Make a habit of writing at least 1000 words daily and make the writing precise, relevant to the topic with neat handwriting. This is a must-have habit among all UPSC aspirants.

    Reading newspapers:

    You may be familiar with this because newspaper reading is required to answer the current affairs questions. Many questions that are asked in the examinations come directly from the newspapers. Hence, it is very crucial to read newspapers daily to crack the UPSE exam. Budding aspirants should make this a habit during their preparation period.

    Maintaining a healthy lifestyle:

    Maintaining a healthy and disciplined lifestyle is very necessary in order to prepare for the UPSE examination. It does not mean breaking all ties with the social world, but having a life with fewer distractions, a healthy diet, a proper sleep cycle and regular exercise is a prerequisite to excel in the preparations. Develop such habits that will encourage healthy life choices and complement your preparation process.

    Discussing:

    Aspirants should develop a daily routine to indulge in healthy and quality discussions with their peers, teachers, and coaching instructors. Quality discussions should focus upon a topic so everyone can look at it from different perspectives and back them with verified data available in the public domain. Discussions are a great way of gathering differing points of view and necessary information on any given topic.

    The above habits will benefit your preparation and help you crack the UPSE exam.

    ow find your path to a successful finish in the highly competitive Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams with the help of study aids and exam preparation books in various formats online, choose the best UPSC prelims preparation books, mains preparation books and more at the best prices with Pearson. Remove your fear of UPSC exams and stay ahead in your preparation with the help of Pearson UPSE preparation books. 

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  • Know Everything about NTSE (National Talent Search Examination)

    National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a National level scholarship program organized by the Government of India and conducted by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) for the exemplary students studying in class 10th. The exam is conducted in two different stages: Stage I – State level and Stage II – National level. As the name suggests, it is an opportunity for class 10 students to be recognized as the nation’s talent. 

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  • Mental Health Concerns of Students in the Pandemic

    “Don’t lose hope. When the sun goes down, the stars come out.”

    We find ourselves at the aftermath of the second wave of the Pandemic. We have been through a lot from self isolation to disruptions in our daily routines, with work from home and online schooling for children becoming the new normal. 

    Meanwhile, television and social media flashed horrific graphic facts and images of the dead and dying. Covid 19 related bereavements, grief, job losses and an uncertain future faced by so many resulted in frayed tempers, anxiety and depression at home which rubbed off on children as well. Concern for loved ones and self contracting the virus created fear and played havoc with emotions - staying healthy became another great stressor.

    The second lockdown has brought with it more serious psychological problems affecting all age groups, especially children. Prolonged closure of schools not only upset school routines but children lost an important anchor in life as these temples of learning provide not only education but life skills and overall development for holistic learning. Not being able to go to school has had implications like:

    • time spent on online classes and self study has resulted in disturbed behavioral issues with too much screen time affecting the sleep cycle of children.
    • due to stringent social distancing policies and not being able to go out, children have become crotchety and irritable.
    • students who need extra support within the class may find it challenging to  understand new concepts while at home.
    • their class work not being checked regularly makes them feel less confident about what they have written.
    • during online classes, many students cannot be given much attention so they feel sidelined.
    • online learning has certainly affected a child s social development more than her/his cognitive development.

    All stakeholders of Classes X and XII heaved a collective sigh of relief when the Board Examination was cancelled. However, this ‘euphoria’ may be short lived and premature- results and college admissions in India and abroad would be the next cause of concern. 

    On the other hand, our teachers who have had to juggle both the home front and online classes and who have adapted brilliantly to the new mode of teaching, also face many stress related issues while conducting online classes.

    • they are stressed with the behavioral patterns of children some of who show signs of being obstinate and defiant in obeying the teachers’ instructions.
    • online teaching lacks the non verbal care that can be expressed in class with just a pat on the back or an approving smile.
    • they are helpless when it comes to imposing discipline as most of the children have their audio devices muted or videos switched off.

    Psychologists suggest a few measures like :

    • it is normal to feel anxiety, panic or sadness. Talking to someone about it and allowing yourself to feel these emotions. With feeling comes healing.
    • Happiness chemicals: Dopamine (the reward chemical) completing a task or doing self care activities. Oxytocin (the love hormone) hugging your family members, playing with your pet or doing gardening while listening to music.. Endorphin (the pain killer) laughter is the best medicine or eating dark chocolate and Serotonin (the mood stabilizer) meditating and/or getting your daily dose of sun therapy.
    • Starting a ‘grateful journal’ 
    • Turning the days of isolation into a journey of self discovery and self empowerment.

    A few takeaways from this pandemic are that we must all make a concerted effort to draw all the strength and energy we can to come out of these bad times as also to help others around to come out of challenges like negativity and hopelessness without sinking into the abyss of despair, to follow Covid protocols and to be mindful of whatever we do.

    Signing off on an optimistic note…remember, “This too shall pass.”

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  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Mathematics 2021

    Owing to the ongoing COVID – 19 pandemic, the National Olympiad programme in Mathematics, culminating in the International Mathematical Olympiad 2021 and European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad 2022, has been reduced to a three-stage process instead of four stages.

    Earlier, the process to finalize the students who will represent India in the International Mathematics Olympiad used to be a six-stage process. There were two qualification rounds at the pre-regional level (PRMO) and then at the regional level (RMO). Due to the effects of the pandemic, the authorities have decided to combine PRMO and RMO in a single stage, the Indian Olympiad Qualifiers in Mathematics (IOQM), which reduced the six-stage process to five stages.

    Stages of Mathematics Olympiad

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  • Back to School!

    Time to resume the schools! Starting the school year can be stressful at the best of times, let alone after a pandemic. Both children and adults are feeling excited, nervous, anxious and may be reluctant to return to school.

    In order to reach the goal of reopening schools as safely and quickly as possible for in-person learning and help schools remain open, it is important to adopt and diligently implement actions to slow the spread of COVID-19 inside the school. This means that students, families, teachers, school staff  take actions to protect themselves and others where they live, work, learn, and play.

    We will be adapting to a new normal once school reopen i.e., everybody needs to wear masks while maintaining social distancing.

    Few strategies to consider while developing any EOP:

    • Develop a protocol for monitoring local COVID-19 data in your community to keep track of the level of transmission, to make decisions about changes to mitigation strategies, and to help determine whether school closures may be necessary. This should include daily review of official public health data surrounding the school. Contact the state, local, tribal, or territorial Public Health Department for references to local COVID-19 data.
    • Develop and test information-sharing systems (e.g., school-to-parent email or texting protocols, periodic virtual meetings with parent/teachers, etc.) with school and community partners and key stakeholders. Use institutional information systems for day-to-day reporting on information that can help to detect and respond to an outbreak, such as number of cases and absenteeism or changes in the number of visits to the health centre by students, teachers, and other staff.
    • Adopt mitigation strategies to promote healthy behaviors that reduce the spread of COVID-19, maintain healthy school environments and operations, and plan what to do if a student, teacher, or staff member gets sick.
    • Examine the accessibility of information and resources to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and maintain healthy environments and determine whether they are in plain language, and available in appropriate languages and accessible formats.
    • In consultation with local officials, establish transparent criteria for when the school will suspend in-person learning to stop or slow the spread of COVID-19, as well as transparent criteria for when to resume in-person learning.
    • Assess students’ special needs (such as continuing education, meal programs, and other services) and develop strategies to address these needs if in-person learning is suspended or if a student needs to self-isolate as a result of a diagnosis of or exposure to COVID-19.

    Students with disabilities or special healthcare needs

    Plan for accommodations, modifications, and assistance for children and youth with disabilities and special healthcare needs.

    A customized and individualized approach for COVID-19 is needed for special needs children, who have limited mobility; have difficulty accessing information due to visual, hearing, or other limiting factors; require close contact with direct service providers; have trouble understanding information; have difficulties with changes in routines; or have other concerns related to their disability. This would call for the following:

    • Education to remain accessible for children in special education who have an Individualized Education Program.
    • Social distancing and isolating at school may be difficult for many people with disabilities.
    • Wearing masks may be difficult for people with certain disabilities (e.g., visual or hearing impairments) or for those with sensory, cognitive, or behavioral issues.
    • Students may require assistance or visual and verbal reminders to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, throw the tissue in the trash, and wash their hands afterwards.
    • CLEANING AND DISINFECTING procedures may negatively affect students with sensory or respiratory issues.
    • Students may require assistance or supervision washing their hands or using a hand sanitizer.
    • Cleaning and disinfecting personal belongings, school objects, or surfaces may require assistance or supervision.
    • Behavioural techniques can help all students, adjust to changes in routines and take preventive actions. These techniques may be especially beneficial for some children with disabilities and may include modelling and reinforcing desired behaviours and using picture schedules, timers, and visual cues. 
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