SHILLONG: Online education cannot substitute for classroom education as bad internet connectivity is hindering quality learning.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Sunday, Superior of the Sacred Heart Convent, Teresa Kamauan and Principal of Sacred Heart Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Lydia Pala expressed concern that there are about 30 per cent children from the school who cannot get assignments as they do not have internet facilities.
These poor students do not even have access to WhatsApp and will be deprived of learning opportunity, they observed. ‘For people in far flung areas such as Dawki and other interior parts, e-learining will not be a possibility, they added.
“We are trying to communicate with the teachers but many students will be deprived in this year’s academic year. Internet is still very poor,” Teresa said.
As for waiving students’ fees, Pala said that they will wait for the government guidance. Another challenge for the school is to how they will assess the newcomers.
Asked, Pala said that the school will take classes on holidays also and will likely forfeit the summer holidays.
Around 87 students sat for their matriculation examination while around 67 students gave their higher secondary examination.
Teresa said that masks were distributed to the students who went home while 5 of the convent girls stranded are from Manipur. The superior of the convent said the students would love to return home but she wants to get concrete arrangement to get them back.