Team Herald
SANGUEM: Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar urged the government to either make alternate arrangements to provide mobile connectivity in the taluka or start regular classes for Class VIII, IX and X students by following social distancing.
Gaonkar informed that the taluka has 12 high schools and a higher secondary school. Of these, two high schools and the lone higher secondary school are located in the town area. The remaining schools are in the interior villages of Valkini, Bhati, Wadem, Neturlim, Rivona, Zambaulim and Sulcorna.
Gaonkar claimed that all the villages in the taluka are deprived of mobile connectivity and with lone BSNL tower and some of these villages remain out of service for most days of the year. “This will have severe impact on the students’ mental health and their parents fear that their children will lose the academic year. To name a few, in Verlem, Salgini and Tudov , there is no connectivity at all. What are the students supposed to do in such cases,” Gaonkar asked.
“Before taking a mass decision, the government should consider the availability of the infrastructure facilities in every part of the State and not in towns and cities alone. Majority of the students reside in remote areas and the government has not thought of them. What about the financial burden, the decision of online classes will have on the parents, particularly those who are not having regular income and those having more than one child?,” Gaonkar questioned.
“A simple Android phone cost nothing less than Rs 10,000. From where will the parents get the money to buy the latest mobile phones and the monthly recharges? ” he questioned further.
“Some years back, the government had provided the students with tabs and computers when it was not necessary. But now when it is required the government is not doing anything,” said Gaonkar. He reiterated his demand that the government urgently solves the issue of net connectivity in the villages before continuing with the ongoing online classes in Goa or starts regular classes for Class VIII, IX and X, while strictly following social distancing rules.
