Matiullah Kakar:
Online classes: Poor internet connectivity mentally disturbs students in Balochistan
“This slow internet connection mentally disturbs me”, Naeema Zehri, a student of mass communication in Sardar Bahadur Khan (SBK) Women University says. Like Naeema, many students in Balochistan have been critical of the federal government’s decision to launch online classes in the province.
“When we fail to meet, deadlines given by teachers, it really pains us”, she said, referring to online classes in the university. Police had detained over 50 students protesting against online classes outside Balochistan Assembly the other day. However, the students were released by the government.
The Balochistan High Court (BHC) had also ordered the formation of a committee to evolve mechanisms regarding the online classes in the province. The additional chief secretary Balochistan, Hafiz Basit leads the committee with regard to evolving a mechanism regarding the online classes in the province.
Online classes: Poor internet connectivity mentally disturbs students in Balochistan
The higher education commission had launched online classes across the country in the aftermath of a novel coronavirus in order to avoid wasting precious time of the students. However, students in Balochistan have demanded of the government to make sure the availability of better internet connection for the students to make sure their presence in online classes.
“We have no mobile facility, what to demand internet facility”, Atif Hameed, a student of media studies at Balochistan University told the daily Quetta Voice. Hameed’s a resident of Tehsil Mobai district Mastung. Mentally, I am not ready for online classes, he mentioned.
Governor Balochistan, Justice (R) Amanullah Khan Yaseenzai had also chaired a high-level meeting of all vice-chancellors to sort out the issue of online classes the other day.
The students preparing for competitive examinations and tests decided to stay in Quetta, the provincial capital because of the internet facility. “After lockdown, I stayed at Lahore to participate in online classes”, Rehman Ghulam, a student from Pasni stated. I knew that the internet facility in Balochistan was weak therefore I stayed there, he added. When I being a position holder face this problem, then what would be the condition of other students, he mentioned.
The BHC had also directed universities in Balochistan not to charge any fees in terms of online classes in the province. “Neither I have smartphone nor laptop, how can I participate in online classes”, Shazia Rehman, a student of computer science in Balochistan University complains.
Most of the students in rural Balochistan have also complained about the non-availability of laptops and smartphones to participate in online classes. The committee formed on the recommendation of the BHC is likely to submit its report soon.
The writer is a Quetta-based journalist, he can be contacted @matijournalist on TwitterÂ
