The Karnataka state government has submitted a report, according to that twenty per cent of students do not have access to technology because of which students are unable to participate in virtual education. So, it became a duty of the state government to give access to them via technology says Karnataka High Court. Karnataka High Court says that under Article 21A of the Indian constitution it is a fundamental right of a student to receive compulsory education till the age of 14.
The Court says that it will be a violation of fundamental right if they are unable to give access to technology that is very much required for online education during this pandemic.
The instruction by Karnataka High Court came on Tuesday and this hearing came out as a petition was filed regarding the preparation of the state government for its effective and equitable delivery of online education. This concern was expressed by a division bench of Justice B.V Nagarathan and Justice Hanchate Sanjeev Kumar.
It Is not only a matter of concern in Karnataka High Court but also in every state of India. Many students do not have access to technology and so it is unable for them to attend classes that are held online. This case is also same in Maharashtra as well, only 59.8 % students have access to technology that is laptop and smartphone and only 57% have internet connectivity. So 43 % students do not have internet facility and approx 40 % do not have proper devices. So only halfpopulation of students have access to online learning. This is same case in all of the states let it be Karnataka, Maharashtraor any other.
A report by UNICEF says that only 24% of Indian household have internet connection through which they can do classes online. The majority of the students do not have access to internet, and so it is impossible for them to get online education. The report further says that girls from most backward area do not have a proper smartphone and if some have then there come a problem of internet connectivity and slow speed.
So, in all over India getting online education is a very big matter of concern for many students
This matter needs to be solved, state government and central government should provide proper technology to the students who are facing this problem. State government with the help of local authorities should make a list of students who are facing this problem. After that they should be provided with good laptops or smartphone through which they can attend classes. Laptops and smartphone must be given only with specific software and applications that are useful only for attending online class. Even government can give these devices for free and as this pandemic ends or as school college reopens take it back and use it at school collage level.In this way this problem can be solved. State government with the help of local authorities can do this. Not only the government but also people can help, we many a times have devices at our homes which are in a working condition but are not at all in use. So, these types of devices should be given to those who really need it, in this way citizens can also contribute.
And it can be said that it is a big failure on the part of government, as this whole pandemic and lockdown started some one and half year ago in the month of March. And now the government are taking actions regarding this. The loss of students cannot be reimbursed. It is a very big loss on the part of students. The government need to also come up with some solutions for this, like for all the students those who have missed the classes because of less internet facilities or because of no availability of devices should be taught all this once again. Government can just be carelessly let go this. This matter came into picture as Karnataka High court recommended this measure, but all state government need to come up with some measures and solve this problem as soon as they can.
The decision given by Karnataka High Court can be proved very useful, all are locked in home and school and collage are yet to be opened. Looking at the current situation it is going to take time to once again reopen all schools as second wave just put a huge impact and if third wave enters then it will take more time for schools to open. So fast implementation of this should be done by all governments. Other government need to come with some Solution and more important than this is fast implementation. If fast implementation is done then this is going to be useful as schools are going in their phase and students are the ones who are left behind. So fast implementation should be done.
