NSF and NEISSR students for equitable internet facility

Dimapur, July 26 (EMN): Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and NEISSR Students’ Council have agreed to jointly appeal to the government and university authority for a review on the decision to hold final year exams as well as to pursue for improvement of internet connectivity throughout the state to enable the students continue their education and take exams through online systems.

The decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the NSF and NEISSR Students’ Council officials held at the office of NSF in Kohima on July 24.

An update from NEISSR stated that the two teams had discussed on the findings of a survey on internet accessibility in Nagaland, which was recently conducted by NEISSR Students’ Council. The members also expressed concern on the university exams scheduled for post graduate final year students considering the risks of exposure to Covid-19 and restricted public transports under the lockdown conditions.

It stated that NEISSR Students’ Council had initiated an online survey on internet accessibility across 11 districts to establish an empirical benchmark on campaign mode under the banner ‘Right to internet access.’ The survey reported that only 29% out of the total 615 respondents had regular and good quality internet facility spread over the 11 districts. The respondents were mostly students of higher education in the state.

Meanwhile, NSF has appreciated the survey works of the NEISSR students and found the findings useful in addressing the issues on the strengths of data and in more informed ways.

It also stated that NSF, as a pioneer students’ movement in Nagaland, has been demanding the state government to ensure equal and quality internet facility throughout the state for the benefit of all students staying home under lockdown conditions since March 17, 2020. Besides, it stated that more than half of the total students studying in hundreds of schools, colleges and universities in the state remained deprived of online education opportunities due to low bandwidth internet connectivity despite having a dedicated department for providing internet services in the state under the Digital India Mission.

The two students’ bodies agreed to further pursue the matters with the government together for the benefit of present and future generations of students in the state.