PANAJI/MARGAO
Demanding a halt to online education system until all the issues faced by the students, parents and teachers are addressed and solved as early as possible, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party on Monday set a 15-day deadline on the government or face an agitation.
A delegation headed by MGP leader, MLA Sudin Dhavalikar called on the South Goa district Collector Ruchika Katyal, IAS and suggested a host of solutions to the issues.
In the memorandum, the MGP demanded creation of network infrastructure for uninterrupted internet connectivity in rural areas and also provide free smartphones to the needy and poor students.
A demand was put forth to provide free internet connectivity to the needy and poor students and train teachers to adapt to online teaching.
Later briefing the media, Dhavalikar said the MGP will go into an agitational mode three days before the ensuing Assembly session by holding a meeting of parents at the Azad Maidan.
“We demand that the government should declare and make available for information of all the Plan of Act for the implementation of Online system and to resolve all the problems faced by the students within 15 days,” he later told the media.
Addressing a news conference in Panaji, Dhavalikar said a memorandum raising concerns of poor internet connectivity has been sent to the chief minister, chief secretary, secretary of education.
"Some parents cannot even afford to buy books and how will they afford to buy a costly smartphone and pay for mobile recharge for online classes," asked Dhavalikar.
“Does the State government not want students from a poor background and rural areas to do well in their studies?”
Dhavalikar claimed that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had assured in the last assembly session that online classes would not be started until there are proper arrangements for internet connectivity.
