'Could not afford to buy devices for attending on-line class'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 15 2020:
"As students from economically distressed families cannot afford the cost of a laptop/computer/smartphone or the internet connection, the Government must study the issue and make arrangement to provide written notes (questions and answers) to disadvantaged students," said Thangjam Roji (13), a young girl student from Sanjenbam Maning Leikai, Imphal East.
Born to T Somender and T Anita, Roji has three siblings, T Rozer (14); T Robita (11) and T Roni (9) .
Three of them study at Heibongpokpi High School while the youngest T Roni studies at Sanjenbam Primary School.
T Somender is a tenant farmer while Anita does menial jobs to make ends meet of their family and also to send their children to school.
The family live in a makeshift house.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, T Roji said that classes in the Country have been put on hold since mid-March due to the imposition of the Nationwide lockdown.
"Starting online classes by the Education Department and the State Government to provide quality education amid the lockdown is indeed a very good step, however, we could not afford the cost of electronic devices to attend the class", she lamented.
Saying that her family doesn't even own a television, radio and a single smartphone, T Roji stated that closure of educational institutions has significantly affected students belonging to the economically weaker section.
Several students from hill region and interior villages might also not be availing the benefit of the on-line classes due to non-availability of online learning resources, T Roji added.
In the meantime, T Anita, mother of Roji, expressed disappointment that she could not buy a smartphone for her children to join on-line classes.
Saying that she is losing sleep thinking about her children future, T Anita expressed a desire for the schools to provide at least notes (questions and answers) to students from poor families who couldn't afford to join on-line classes.
"I want my children to get the best education possible," T Anita said and appealed to the State Government to look into their grievances.
While T Somender stated that his family still doesn't get the benefits of National Food Security Act (NFSA), CMHT and other Government schemes.
Our family doesn't also have a LPG gas connection though we have submitted required documents and money (Rs 300), he said adding that they have also submitted documents to construct house under Government scheme but not yet short-listed.
It may be mentioned that Education Minister Dr Thokchom Radheshyam recently launched the digital e-content based website www.lairik.net/www.laireek.net at his office chamber, New Secretariat.