TASU seeks ‘alternate solution’ for students in remote regions
Dimapur, June 1 (MExN): While the Directorate of School Education (DoSE) has announced ‘Online Students Evaluation Programme’ for students of classes 8 to 12 starting June 3, the initiative may not be a ‘plausible solution’ for students residing in remote regions of the state.
The Tobu Area Students Unions (TASU) issued a press release on June 1, calling attention to the plight of students residing in remote areas where ‘internet facilities are still a thing of the future.’
“Leaving aside the woes of basic infrastructure, the Tobu Area Students Unions would like to highlight that it is not a plausible solution for those students residing in remote regions to adhere to the process of Online Evaluation where internet facilities are rare,” the release stated.
It said that a total of three villages namely Shinnyu, Mienchangle and Yeangmai are yet to see electrification despite the state government’s claim of 100% electrification in the state and three villages- Shinnyu, Yongkhao and Eyeang do not have cellular network connection at all.
In addition to this, TASU stated that the 45 government schools and 8 private schools in Tobu Sub-division have been left without a Sub-divisional Education Officer (SDEO) since 2019. The absence of an SDEO who is the controlling officer of the department at the sub-division level, has created hardship/problems especially in the present situation, TASU stated. Immediate posting of SDEO at Tobu headquarter is an urgent need to address the grievances of the teachers and students, it added.
Further, the release stated that TASU has been working with teachers and have even arranged point persons at each village with support from the Village Councils to coordinate with the Department notification for notes and other academic activities. Working under the banner ‘TASU: Morung Education’ initiative, it said that the union toured the entire area from May 22 to 31, to prepare a mechanism to facilitate continuity of quality education and initiate the mandatory evaluation process. However, when the notification for online evaluation was published, it has created a stumbling block and confusion among the student community, TASU stated.
“We have already highlighted the challenges students have to face while complying with the expectations of the State Education Department and has so far managed to comply with most of them, but this online evaluation request creates an additional burden not just for the students but for the student bodies who has to find a way to meet the expectations of the students as well as comply with the Department procedure,” the release stated.
As such, the union put across a request to the DoSE, seeking an alternate solution for those regions where the accessibility of internet facility and electricity connection is not at par like those in urban areas. The union would like to cooperate with the Department and provide any assistance required if an alternate solution is further arranged, it added.
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