WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
Ajit John
I had a very bad experience due to the frequent power outages. While answering my papers, I missed my submission deadlines. Infact I had to rewrite an entire paper because my charge ran out and the document was not saved. My classmates too have experienced similar terrifying situations. One of my classmates couldn’t even contact the teacher to inform her about the delay in submission because her phone charge died and the WiFi was turned off. There is fear that this could lead to serious problems academically. I feel that power outages during exams are definitely a big issue in Goa. It’s indisputable that students answering online exams need constant power supply.- Shreeya Kudchadkar, Margao
Power outages are something common where I live, and it becomes really hectic during online exams when this happens, because it’s difficult to use mobile data in a village with no proper network. I have to completely depend on the wifi service at home. However due to frequent power outages the wifi service keeps cutting off, because of which the submission of the exam answer sheet is delayed. Yes, online exams are safer and the youth is protected, but these factors should also be taken into consideration. We need reliable power supply to ensure uninterrupted flow of work.
Frequent power cuts disrupt the internet flow, students panic due to unstable connectivity. Electronic gadgets lose their charge due to power cuts and we were unable to complete our papers which forces us to settle for undeserving grades. Also, the required comfort and convenience that keeps us focused is disrupted.
The causes and consequences of power outages in an age where almost everything is digital is not something new we have had to face. As students have to answer online exams in view of this threat (of power outages) the fear is quite apparent. Sometimes even teachers treat such statements (“Ma’am our WiFi is down’’) with skepticism, making life really difficult; convincing them to accept our paper becomes a frustrating task and many students face the taunting accusations of teachers and staff. However it is very clear that power outages are here to stay and as long as online classes and exams are still the norm the only solution to this problem would be, ‘being ready.’ Connecting laptops and mobiles to CPU’s to keep them charged and connecting the WiFi modems to some battery backup is one way. Charging mobile data services with adequate packages to help upload PDF’s in case of WiFi shutdowns is also a solution
I have not experienced power outage in my area. But if outages happen frequently, it will be a tough time answering online exams. It will increase our level of anxiety because of the fear of not finishing the paper on time. Hence, it is extremely important to take precautions and keep an alternative ready in case if such a situation arises.
Online exams got more challenging due to persistent power cuts. My phone doesn’t provide very good battery life, since the screen has to be kept on throughout for referring to the question paper, it often switched off during the time of submission, which increases the chaos. Many times I couldn’t submit the paper on time, and had to face repercussions. I was on the verge of giving a re-examination for a paper that I had answered well.
Answering an exam online can be very difficult due to power outages that turn off the WiFi connections. This causes trouble in downloading the question paper or uploading the answer sheets. Also, due to periodic power surges throughout the night, study apparatus such as laptops and mobile phones do not charge, causing panic and anxiety to the student.
Power cuts during online examinations are really stressful. When the power keeps fluctuating time and again we face a really difficult time concentrating, a lot of our time goes into downloading the paper, finding connectivity and even submitting the paper.
Unscheduled and frequent power cuts can cause a major nuisance while answering online exams, making students write their papers in a rush in order to submit them before the battery of a device goes off.
Frequent power outages are like a nightmare during online examinations. The worst thing is we are completely dependent on electronic devices, which need to be charged after a certain period of time but because of constant power cuts it becomes very difficult for the devices to function properly. Fixing them and searching for an alternative, consumes a lot of time, leaving our papers to be incomplete which in turn affects our overall grades.
Frequent power fluctuations whilst answering, left many students facing a quandary as they use WiFi. With the instability in power, they have no resort but to wait it out till it returns. I too have faced this problem and submitted my paper five minutes after deadline. Power outages are totally deplorable.
- Christopher Eugene D’Souza, Student, Curtorim
