PANJIM: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday said the State government is least interested in developing online education infrastructure as students are forced to wander for connectivity.
“Why there was no focus on developing infrastructure that supports online education? It’s been seven months since lockdown initiated, no development so far,” said AAP spokespeson Surel Tilve.
Tilve has severely criticised the BJP government for not providing necessary infrastructure that supports online education. He cited a few incidents of students committing suicide in Goa for not having smartphones to continue their education and many students from rural areas who are forced to walk to dangerous places for network connectivity for their online classes.
“Why there was a need to hurriedly push the pattern of online education and why the schools and colleges were asked to carry out online classes when children and youth in rural areas and remote parts of Goa are not having any kind of access to such technology or smartphones? It has been found that many students in rural areas are so poor that they cannot afford a mobile phone or a smartphone. Then why was there a need to hurriedly continue with online education,” Tilve asked.
In a recent news report it was found that around 25 to 30 students from Cumbhari and Baati villages in Sanguem taluka visit the hill areas of Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary to attend online classes. The students face a lot of risks from the wild animals.
“Due to poor connectivity, students have to travel three kilometers to venture into the forest area. They leave from their homes at around 8 am and return at around 1 pm. The students have informed the panch members of their respective village panchayats and also their MLA, but all their grievances have gone into vein,” Tilve added.
