BENGALURU: During a video conference interaction programme with students on Friday, S Suresh Kumar, minister for primary and secondary education, was again reminded of the fact that a huge number of students cannot access the internet.
Mohan Kumari, a student from Mysuru DIET told the minister: “Sir, we received tabs but there is no internet connection for us to participate in classes.”
Soon after the programme ended, the minister told reporters officials of his department will meet on Monday to discuss how accessibility to devices and internet facilities can be increased in rural areas.
A recent survey conducted by the department of public instruction found that more than 31.3 lakh students in Karnataka don’t have digital devices, 37.8 lakh have no access to the internet, and 8.7 lakh have no television or radio at home.
“Several block education officers (BEOs) and taluklevel officials are trying to build a mobile bank for students with phones donated by people,” Kumar said. “We will meet with internet service providers and discuss how best to increase connectivity.”
During the phone-in programme, a student expressed concern over the time needed to answer math questions under the multiple-choice format, the new marking scheme, while others said they were happy with the new format.
A student from Chikkamagaluru district expressed concern over poor bus services which the minister said will be taken care of. Students attended the video conference from DIET offices (District Institute for Education and Training).
II PU results
The minister also said results for II PU are expected to be announced around July 20. “With the increase in the number of students graduating from class 10 this year, we will also look at enhancing the number of PU seats in government PU colleges. No child will be deprived of a seat,” he said. Kumar was also confident that the SSLC board exams, scheduled for July 19 and 21, will be conducted as planned despite a PIL against it filed in the high court.
“Last year too, there was a PIL in the HC and Supreme Court,” Kumar said. “The courts were convinced about our preparations and the SOPs we put in place and therefore gave us permission. This year, we have increased the number of exam centres. We will inform the court about our preparations,” he said.
He said 98% of teachers and officials involved in the SSLC exams have been vaccinated. The remaining will be vaccinated in the next few days.
He pointed out that the positivity rate was 13.2% when the SSLC exams were held last year, while this year the positivity rate is only 1.7%. Several organisations like Bharat Scouts and Guides, Youth for Seva, Rotary International, Advanced Education Service and Rainbow Hospitals have donated masks and Embassy Group has provided sanitisers.
Printing of textbooks has begun and students will get the books in 2-3 weeks, he said. The department of rural development and panchayat raj has launched an extensive programme to provide toilet and drinking water facilities in all schools.
