Poor access to online classes for section of migrant children

Teachers begin visiting students’ houses to ensure they do not miss out on portions covered

Lack of access to smartphones and poor Internet connectivity have hit the online learning process of a section of migrant children in Ernakulam.

This has prompted teachers to fill the gap through offline learning amid the pandemic crisis. Even though the General Education Department had said that almost all learners in the district were able to watch classes aired through Victers channel after two weeks of the commencement of the new academic year, children of migrant workers continue to face the hurdles of poor connectivity and absence of quality smartphones for uninterrupted viewing of online lessons and completion of follow-up assignments given by teachers. The right to education of hundreds of migrant children is being ensured through the district administration’s Roshni project in government and aided schools.

Teachers such as Jaya Paul of MES Eastern UP School at Eloor have now started visiting migrant children’s homes to ensure that they do not miss out on portions covered on a weekly basis. “The four students of a migrant family residing at Idukki Junction in Muppathadam were reported to be watching Victers channel when we did the initial assessment. However, I found that they were not responding to short assignments given over WhatsApp after a fortnight. They had shifted to another rented home in this period, which lacked cable connection. Their father, who works at a leather factory in Edayar, did not have a smartphone,” said Ms. Paul.

The teacher has now started visiting the children during weekends to recap the weekly portions and to provide short assignments. “All safety protocols are followed while teaching the four students of Classes 1, 6, 8, and 10. They all are so eager to pursue their studies,” she said.

Usha Manatt, District Project Co-ordinator, Samagra Shiksha, Kerala, said teachers of various schools and resource volunteers had started visiting the homes of migrant workers facing issues like poor Internet connectivity and lack of smartphones.

“The trained volunteers can convey lessons to migrant children in their respective mother tongues. They visit places like Perumbavoor which have a considerable presence of migrant workers. Voluntary organisations and other well-wishers have also contributed online teaching facilities to the migrant students,” she said.