Poor mobile network makes e-learning a distant dream for students of 600 schools along IB, LoC in Jammu province

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 18

The online classes started by the Education Department to reach out to students have been failing the purpose in areas along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir due to poor internet connectivity.

Nearly 600 schools are situated in the border belts of Jammu province from Kathua to Poonch.

“What to speak of border villages, loading or downloading presentations is difficult even in Poonch town,” a teacher deputed for e-learning process told The Tribune.

“For the last one week, I have been trying ‘webex-meet’ with students but to no avail due to the poor mobile network,” said another teacher, posted in RS Pura sector. He said a majority of the students of government schools didn’t own smartphones and those who did couldn’t connect due to network issues.

While announcing summer vacation in the summer and winter zones of Jammu province, the authorities had directed the teachers to ensure online access to students through social media platforms at least five days a week. The schools were instructed to conduct weekly programmes and assignments throughout the vacation period, besides engaging children in cultural activities. 

The schools were also told to ensure the teachers were available for any query by students through voice calls, text or WhatsApp messages during the period.

“How can we contact the students living in areas when the mobile network is so poor?” the teacher said.