Online Classes: State’s Poor Internet Connectivity A Concern, Says Odisha Education Minister

Bhubaneswar: School and Mass Education Minister of Odisha, Samir Ranjan Dash highlighted the state’s poor internet connectivity and said that several students walk miles, scale hills to attend online classes during COVID-19 pandemic.

Dash said around 22 lakh children are now availing e-education in Odisha, while the rest 38 lakh students are deprived of the online classes due to non-availability of mobile network in their areas.

“I am happy that my department has been imparting online classes but children have to climb trees, hills to get net connectivity. This is a central issue and our Chief Minister has taken up the matter with the Prime Minister for expanding net connectivity in remote areas of the state,” he said.

“Had there been no online classes, the reports of children climbing hills and trees would not have received. I am happy that our teachers are taking online classes,” the minister added.

Going by the reports, students in Rayagada district have to walk miles and scale mountains to attend online classes while the pupils in Deogarh and Sambalpur districts climb water tanks for proper internet connectivity.