F.P. Report
LANDI KOTAL: The tribal students are failed to get advantage of the online classes’ scheme, initiated by the government to continue educating process of the children. Five years back, the forces have suspended 3G and 4G net services in the merged tribal districts due to security reasons.
It is to be mentioned here that after threat of spread of corona pandemic, like other parts of the world, the government of Pakistan also suspended all state-run and private education institution on March 14th, 2020 till May, 31, 2020. The education ministry of federal government in immediate step to carry on the educating process of the children, has launched online classes through Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) from 6:0 am to 8:0 pm from 1st grade to intermediate classes.
Shamsul Haq,a 10 class science student of government high school, Muhammad Khan Kalley who was unaware of the online classes, commenced by the government said that unavailability of 3G,4G and wifi net, he could not enjoy the facility. If the situation was remained the same, the course could not be covered that would suffer in the time of exam, he added and saying iin the absence of net facility, the government should prefer other traditional learning methods to save their future.
A senior and awarding wining government teacher, Arshad Ali Afridi said that online education was passive learning procedure that was not considered ineffective one as the students could not ask direct question. He said that keeping in view dearth of net, unscheduled power off, low financial status of children etc.less than 2% children of tribal belt would get advantage of it, to resume their studies.
He added that adopting precautionary measures in educational institutions, the students of the merged districts could resume their studies. Faizullah Shainwari, father of 7th grade student in army public school said that launching online classes was encouraging step of the incumbent government for the learners to exploit the opportunity however maximum number of students in Landi Kotal would not be benefitted of plan as 3G and 4G net services had been hanged up for the several years and available landline net facility was limited extension.
As per education department and private schools management there are approximately 22600 students from KG grade to 10th grade have been enrolled in government-run schools in Landi Kotal and in the same way round about 30000 to 35000 students are studying in private educational institutions. On the other hand the Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (ptcl) Senior Division Officer, Sebghatullah said that 1200 landlines net service had been functioned in the area that could not meet need of the people.
“The present system is working in three square kilometers in Landi Kotal,”he added and saying due to faulty cables and mountainous and remote location they could not provide net facility in spite of the vast demand of the locals. The students and parents of the merged districts demanded of the government to forthwith restart 3G and 4G net service in the area to continue the students’ online studies and formulate strategy to open schools to save precious time of the students.
