EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 4: Jammu and Kashmir may have initiated online classes amid Covid-19 outbreak; however lack of high speed internet is making pupils struggle across the Kashmir valley.
The online classes were commenced in the valley by some private institutes following the closure of educational institutions amid the Coronavirus outbreak, however, students have complained that slow speed of internet services is causing lot of trouble to them.
The Jammu and Kashmir had barred the internet services across the Jammu and Kashmir following the scrapping of Article 370 by central government on August 5 last year and schools remained closed. However, internet services were resumed later in stepped manner after more than five months.
“We had missed schools last year due to scrapping of Article 370 and then when we thought to resume the classes, virus broke out,” said Abid, class 8th student.
He added, “Following the closure of schools amid Coronavirus outbreak my institution started online classes, where students had to download study material through video classes.”
Abid added that for a second he was happy that he will study at home. However, he later realized that they only have 2G internet speed here in the valley, which is proving too much costly for the students.
“I was expecting some relief over restoration of high speed internet but government continued with the 2G speed, which was very disappointing,” said Shabana, class 12th student.
She added, “It takes us almost 2 to 3 hours to download one video file, which otherwise in high speed internet services would have taken just few minutes.
It becomes very difficult for us to study, while students from across the country are studying through high speed internet.”
“We were told by the school authorities to go for online classes; however, it was not possible in the absence of high speed internet so we decided to go for pre-recorded videos on You Tube and on other apps. We can’t do anything with the present speed being offered,” said Shakeel Rather, a teacher.
He added, “School children are really struggling due to lack of high speed internet and I think government should restore high speed internet for the sake of students.” |
