Since the pandemic began in early 2020, much has changed in the education sector across the world. Schools started offering online classes, in most cases without proper basic infrastructure at the disposal of both, students and teachers. Experience over the months resulted in several innovations in the sector, offering better learning touch.

Jain International Residential School (JIRS) Hybrid, which calls itself South Asia's first hybrid school, is one among these innovations, launched recently. 

Affiliated with Cambridge, JIRS-H will offer online classes, and on-ground sports and labs in 20 cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, it is launched by India's Jain Group in collaboration with Crimson Education, a firm that deals in school management. 

Students who will take all their subjects classes online will be attached to a home campus near their physical locations. Teachers will take their classes from remote locations across the country. For all students, the Bangalore campus of the group will be the parent campus. They will have to travel there for the 10th and 12 exams. 

“The pandemic has indeed brought in a rapid change in our learning system. While technology may make it possible for classes to go online, the role and the need for physical connection and experiential learning in education is imperative and must go hand-in-hand,” Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, India’s top policy-advisory body, said during the launch last week. 

Speaking at the event, Arun Rajamani, managing director (South Asia) of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said, “JIRS Hybrid will offer Cambridge International programs and qualifications in an online format that allows learning without boundaries."

Over the last two years, since the pandemic began, the physical disconnect in classes and its effects were quite evident, especially in kids. The JIRS-Hybrid, through a mix of online classes and offline activities, is attempting to bridge that gap. 

(SAM)