New Delhi: In his annual interaction called ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ with students ahead of their boards, PM Modi said, “While we can say that students have lost a year of their lives due to COVID-19, but due to the pandemic, they have also learned a lot of lessons. They have learned the true value of many essential things. The pandemic has taught us to fight the unexpected.”

He delineated the moral learnings an individual took from the pandemic. Despite social distancing, COVID has brought people together emotionally according to Mr. Modi. He said, “We have lost much during the pandemic but we have also gained a lot. The biggest lesson that corona has taught us is that the things and people you missed during the period have such an important role in your life. Those activities and people you had assumed as part of a routine, you realized their importance.”

All educational institutions across the nation were shut down owing to the surge during the first wave. The prolonged closure promoted a paradigm shift in the teaching aids. Online interactions dominated the academic year and balanced the disturbed curriculum. However, as a decline in the COVID graph was observed in October, all educational institutions partially started resuming their physical attendance. But with the unprecedented arrival of the mutant strain, the schools have been forced to shut down once again.

This was the first time the PMs’ interaction with the Board Exam appearing students was conducted virtually. The meet was called Pariksha Pe Charcha which was hosted by the Ministry of Education.  In its fourth term, this event brought over 14 lakh students, teachers, and parents’ registrations. Students from 81 countries participated in this event.