Why is there no bridge course at English medium schools? Teachers and parents have questioned the state’s education department after it rolled out novel bridge courses for Stds II to VIII in Marathi and Urdu medium. The idea is to fill the gaps students might have in studies undertaken online in the previous academic year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The crash course at the beginning of the new year is aimed at helping students catch up and plug any holes.

The bridge course was launched by the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT) in state board schools. The 45-day crash course is to be held from July 1 to August 14 and is expected to help students understand all important concepts across subjects from the previous year. The concept is based on the assumption that under the new normal of online schooling, students might not have clearly understood some things. The crash course is expected to serve as a revision before teachers begin the new curriculum. Now, English medium schools, too, have started demanding it.