Online Class at 3770 m
“OK, now let’s start our class. Today we will be talking about object-oriented programming.” And a message prompts “CONNECTION LOST”. Wondering what just happened, I happen to gaze at the upper part of my cell phone trying to see the network and seeing it vacant, I was muttering “oh! Not again. … Not again.” This small part of my life, I call it fuel. A fuel that ignites my head and brings the situation to halt. After a couple of minutes, the network is back and I rush to connect again in the class. These incidents leave loopholes in the course for which I had to spend extra time getting it right. Makes me feel that I should just exit the class and just get it from videos but having proper attendance also compels me to sit in the class which is a waste of time. As of today, the whole village is filled with haze, visibility so poor that I feel like my house is floating among clouds but still I had to attend my class at 9 am which is not going to happen in my case. The enthusiasm towards online classes that I had on the first day has now vanished and now I’m starting to doubt the impact of the online class. But still, it is one of the best ways we have got. 

The steps that my university took to evaluate end semester examinations amid CoViD-19 pandemic by extrapolation of internal examinations and by giving assignment (which was kind of open book exam) was indeed praiseworthy. But pandemic didn’t end here rather it became more serious with millions as it’s victim across the globe.so, the new trend #newNormal took over the world with countries easing lock-down and business on the verge of catching up with the market. People are out on the street putting on marks and maintaining protocols formed by the government. But schools and universities left with a big question mark. Many are going virtual along with other modes of schooling. Despite many adversities, my university too followed the new normal classes with lots of questions unanswered yet. Providing data packages to students and starting classes with flexible attendance was thought to be the best way and was implemented so. Not only students, teachers too had a problem dealing with a new model of schooling.  

Nepal is tagged as a developing nation and indeed it is. Development activities going in and around, politics on its way of the right path and general people realizing modern world seems enough to be tagged developing nation. But still imbalance development activities and re-centralization of facilities still suck most innocent citizens all over Nepal. While putting forth the issues of online classes, lack of proper availability of electricity and internet (mobile phone network) have been prime issues if we take account of students of whole Nepal not just of Kathmandu valley. With diverse topography, providing these facilities is difficult but it is a must-. The pandemic has surged its necessity. We are with it or we fail to catch the pace of the modern world living between mountains and feeding cattle. 

Today is day 3 without electricity (line) and flickering mobile network. Thanks to the Chinese government for providing additional solar panels for it helped me charge my cell phone and laptop at least when needed. Let me give you a brief insight into the facility of electricity and mobile network in my area. The electricity line comes from the south of my district via the transmission line. Any obstruction in one place, the places after that has no electricity. As mustang is known as a windy tropical desert, these transmission poles often fall obstructing electricity all over the district. Often some fall from time to time and technicians travel long to lit houses of villages. During winter, snowfall makes it worse with villages leaving blackout for weeks or so. Without electricity wouldn’t be a big issue but without a mobile network, online classes would just remain a dream. The mobile tower is quite near to my place on hilltop laid my Nepal telecom providing flickering 3G service and satisfying 2G service. It’s not connected by the electricity line rather it runs on solar panels with a small battery. If it’s a sunny day, there would be a mobile network up until 9 pm else were are without it. With the rainy season on its way, it’s almost cloudy these days. we are able to catch signal only a few minutes of a day if lucky. This not only obstructs my class but its pain in the butt for people living here. A driver lost his life a few days back for not being able to reach the hospital (headquarter) on time. Due to poor network signals, he wasn’t able to contact other vehicles on time.

Despite these short comes, the availability of these facilities is highly appreciated which wasn’t available two years back. The government must accept the route Corona-virus has shown and start making these facilities available according to it. As much as Electricity and the internet are a must for students in these hours so are the gadgets. Making gadgets, especially cell phones or laptops, available to students of rural Nepal, and reducing the price of data packages by telecom is essential. A year loss may seem nothing but what if he/she doesn’t continue at all?