Online classes a challenging task for Lahaul-Spiti students

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 3

Even as the second consecutive academic year in the state has started with online classes, more than 500 students from the remote villages of Lahaul-Spiti are still facing difficulties due to poor Internet connectivity.

Miyar valley, Tindi, Madgran, Thirot and Mooling in this tribal district are completely deprived of the Internet facility, which is a major cause of concern for the students in the district.

Lahaul-Spiti residents alleged that the state government was responsible for this failure. It had failed to provide Internet connectivity in this remote region.

Some parents lamented that they had to send their children away from their houses, where they could find Internet connectivity to attend online classes.

Ramesh Kumar Rulba, chairperson of the Zila Parishad Lahaul-Spiti, said, “Poor Internet connectivity is a major challenge for the students of Lahaul-Spiti amid the Covid-19 outbreak. They are unable to avail online education. The state government must take action to ensure Internet access in the remote district.”

Deputy Director, Higher Education, Lahaul-Spiti, Chiranji Lal said, “In the absence of Internet connectivity in the remote villages, teachers are finding it difficult to provide online education to students. At least 338 students of classes 1 to VIII and 168 students of classes IX to XII are deprived of online education.

To bridge the gap, the teachers are visiting the houses of students once in a week and providing them study material,” he added.