Poor internet connectivity in remote areas, many students trekking kilometres for online classes

Poor internet connectivity in remote areas, many students trekking kilometres for online classes

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 26, 2020: Online education has not got the desired response in the remote areas of Dakshina kannada district due to poor internet connectivity. Many times students had to trek for a few kilometres in certain areas to get a proper signal so that they could attend classes or submit their assignments online.

The students of Perla in Shibaje village in Belthangady have erected a tent on the hilly range, in order to sit and attend the online classes. There are many houses in Perla, Bandihole, Hosathota and Boodudamakki in Shibaje village. In order to access the network, the villagers have to reach Shibaje.

To protect themselves from the rain, plastic sheets have been used to cover the tents. To check against mosquito menace, sarees were tied around the tent. Nine students studying in PU, degree and professional courses have been sitting in the tent to attend the classes. Soundarya Kairanda, a lecturer at Arasinamakki Government Junior College has sought refuge in this tent.

“Most of us carry mobile phones and power banks. We cannot carry laptops because there is no charging point,” says Soundarya Kairanda. From mid-June, the students have been trekking every day to make sure they don’t miss the online classes, she says.

Skanda Prasad, an engineering student, has an online internship between 4pm and 6pm and it can get dark and scary in the evening. We also fear the movement of elephants and leopards here,” says Soundarya.

M Deekshith Hebbar, an engineering student from Bengaluru, said: “Four of us, including Deepak and Deemanth in class 9, and Soundarya thought of putting up a tent in between trees so we could sit down for lessons. Now it is more like a study tent and people take turns based on their online class sessions. “When the place gets too crowded, we face network issues,” he says.

The students in Kudlur village of Koila in Kadaba taluk trek to hilly areas to get a proper signal so that they can attend classes or submit their assignments online.Signals from none of the mobile operators are available in the village, says students.