Team Herald
PANJIM: Claiming that the removal/cutting of internet cables hanging on electricity poles has impacted students and the education sector, the parents have sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to halt the ongoing drive in the State.
The parents in a letter to the prime Minister have sought proper coordination between the government departments to ensure that the cable-cutting drives are halted until a proper solution is found, especially considering the current examination period.
The parents have urged the government to facilitate communication between the Directorate of Education, Department of Information Technology (IT) and the Electricity Department to ensure that such disruptive actions are not taken without considering the impact on the education sector.
They have also requested the authorities to issue clear guidelines and assurances to students, parents and educators regarding the continuity, if education and the mitigation of any further disruptions.
Vilma Natalia Cardoso E Fernandes, a tutor and parent told O Heraldo that she was involved in the education sector mentoring hundreds of students and after Covid pandemic the education in the State was increasingly relying on online learning platforms.
Students across the State have become heavily dependent on stable internet connections to access learning materials, attend online classes and submit their assignments. But the recent cable-cutting drive had created a massive disruption in the essential service, leaving students unable to access educational resources, participate in online classes and prepare for exams.
Fernandes said that the disruption was occurring at an especially critical time when students were preparing to answer their exams. The uncertainty and instability caused by these recurring outages have not only affected their ability to study but have also put their entire academic future at risk.
“As educators we are struggling to provide the necessary support to our students, many of whom rely on these online systems to complete their education and examinations,” Fernandes said.
The parents have appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter and to ensure that the disruption in educational services is not affected. They have feared that if the issue is not resolved swiftly then they will have no option but to consider granting general promotion or awarding pass certificates to students without proper examinations, which would undermine the quality of education in the State.
Meanwhile, the Electricity Department has issued a public notice asking cable operators to remove their cables and infrastructure from electricity poles within the next 10 days failing which the department will remove them.
Goa Cable TV Networking and Service Providers Association president Molly Fernandes said, “The internet services were disrupted. We received several complaints from our clients, who were upset. We have been regularly paying fees to the Electricity Department for using the poles to tie cables. We have now completed all formalities with the department of information and technology.”
When asked whether students and parents have complained about the impact on education due to the sudden disruption in internet services in the State, the Director of Education Shailesh Zingde said, “I have not come across anything from parents and students. They might have submitted their grievances to the Department of Information and Technology.”