Goemkarponn desk
PONDA: The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party continuing their agitation against online classes have demanded immediate stop to the classes till all infrastructure is in place.
“We would like to draw your kind attention to the confusion that is prevailing in the state as regards to the Implementation of Online Education System,” the memorandum submitted to Ponda Dy Collector said..
The MGP said that as an immediate measure to control the spread of Covid-19, most educational institutions have been shut since long time. It is still difficult to predict when schools, colleges and universities will reopen.
“Teachers and school administrators have been advised to continue education through online. However, in the absence of physical classrooms and proper digital infrastructure, both teachers and students are facing unprecedented. Challenges,” the MGP said.
The party said the major challenge of remote learning is disparity in access – from electricity and internet connections to devices like computer or smartphones.
“Access to electricity is crucial for digital education, both for powering devices as well as for connecting to the internet. But we have witnessed frequent power shutdowns not only in villages but also in city areas which has hampered the Online Education System. Another important requirement is smartphone and internet connectivity. It is really sad that there are no proper internet services in the rural areas. There are news reports that students have to walk in kms or climb trees and mountains to get network connectivity in places like Sanguem, Valpoi and various other areas,” MGP said.
MGP said having online classes on a regular basis has a cost implication too, as students have to bear the cost of internet services.
“There is no communication yet from the Govt. on whether it is going to reimburse students or will provide free or subsidized data packs. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed how rooted structural imbalances are between rural and urban, rich and poor, even in the digital world. With the existing digital divide, expanding online education will push the digital have nots to the periphery of the education system, thereby increasing inequality in our society with regards to the education of our students,” MGP said.
MG Party demand to halt Online Education System until all the issues faced by the Students, Parents and teachers are addressed and solved as earlyas possible by implementing following solutions: –
1. Create proper network infrastructure for uninterrupted internet connectivity in rural areas.
2. Provide free smartphones to needy and poor students.
3. Provide free internet connectivity to needy and poor students. 4. Train teachers to adapt to online teaching.
“We demand that the Govt. should declare and make available for information of all the Plan of Action for implementation of Online System and to resolve all the problems faced by students within 15 days,” MGP said.