E-learning to pose problems for rural students

E-learning to pose problems for rural students

30/05/2020, STAFF REPORTER, MADURAI

Students from government-run schools outside Corporation limits will have problems connecting to web-based crash course for National Eligibility cum Entrance (NEET) coaching, say students and teachers.

The State government on Thursday announced that the Department of School Education in association with Amphisoft Technologies E - box will offer a free online crash course to government and government-aided school students registered for NEET. However, with little percolation of e-education in schools and homes in rural areas, students may not be able to make the best of this offer, say school heads.

A headmaster from a government school in Melur says teachers taking higher secondary classes are sending out potential questions on WhatsApp to those with internet connectivity. Some other students call them and get the sample questions dictated. “There are few or no computer centres. Most parents in poor families only have phones that can be used for talking. Smartphones are a rarity,” says a hheadmaster from Kottampatti block. He adds that teachers send notes to neighbours of their students so that they get access to study material.

Another higher secondary school physics teacher from Othakadai says most teachers are evaluating papers and do not have enough time to clear doubts of students. “Without students gathering in a single place to learn, we wonder how we will get good results,” he says.

S. Rajalakshmi, a student of Government Higher Secondary School, Kottampatti, says schools are only signing up toppers for NEET online coaching. “What about those who wish to study outside it. Can’t we avail online facilities if we have access to smartphones?” she asks. M. Kannan, a student of Government Higher Secondary School, T. Kallupatti, says his friends have asked whether they could come home and do group studies as he has a smartphone. “We have to share what we have now,” he says.