Kashmiri students finding it hard to access study material due to gag on high speed net since abrogation of Article 370

Online career and mental health counselling would soon be launched for students in Kashmir valley in order to reduce their mental stress and keep them engaged with studies during the lockdown to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. However, students alleged that they are finding it difficult to even access educational sites due to gag on high speed internet since August 5 last year, when the Centre abrogated Article 370 and Article 35 A.

Principal Secretary Dr Asgar Samoon on Tuesday launched Manzilen-career guidance module for students, which has been prepared by School Education Department in association with a renowned NGO. Dr Samoon said that the department will be starting online career and mental health counselling for students in order to reduce their mental stress and keep them engaged with studies during the lockdown period.

The students said that due to low speed internet they are finding it difficult to access study material online. "It takes three to four minutes to open one page of a site and access study material online has become a lengthy job due to low internet speed. How can we rely on something like that? The government should restore 4G internet service so that we can study without any hassle," Yahya Bhat, a class 12th student told UNI. Similar views were expressed by many other students from different parts of the valley.

Stressing on the need for keeping children engaged with different activities and learning during the lockdown, Dr Samoon directed the Directorate School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to engage experts from health department, UNICEF, NIMHANS and career counsellors for counselling and guidance of students.

He asked them to engage with students and their parents by holding virtual interaction sessions on social networking sites like WhatsApp. He impressed upon all the field officers of the Department to reach out to the students through digital platforms during the prevailing circumstance, so that students do not face difficulties in their studies while being confined to their homes during the lockdown period.

He expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the Directorates of School Education Jammu and Kashmir in making online platforms of learning available to the students and providing the students, teachers and parents with proper counselling amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Samoon asked UNICEF to come forward amid the COVID-19 pandemic situation and provide the department with masks and sanitisers so that the volunteers of Education department, who are presently out in the field, do not face any difficulty in assisting the Divisional and District administrations.