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Children climb on to 60-feet high water tank for online education

30 November 2020 02:37 am - 12     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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In the village of Moragahawewa, Nawagattegama, a group of children were seen climbing into a 60 feet high water tank every day for their education in the face of the ongoing corona pandemic.

With the corona pandemic in schools and private tutoring classes, these children have to study online through mobile phones as there is no other option for them to study the GCE O/L and GCE Advanced Level streams. However, the biggest obstacle for Moragahawewa children to study online lessons through their mobile phones is the lack of cellphone signal waves in many areas including Moragahawewa.

Moragahawewa is located at a distance of 10 km from Nawagattegama town and the people of this village have to run to places where there are telephone signals to get even an urgent phone call. However, the children say that they have to climb into the 60 feet high water tank, the highest point in the village, to study online through the phone that their parents brought with them the money they earned by cultivating the land for their education.

They say that children in the village carry their books and mobile phones to the water tank in the morning and do their online education because there is no other option.these children climb the ladder to the water tank in the morning with great difficulty, study for a few hours and then go home for lunch.

The children say they always come across wild elephants on the road to school and therefore they have to come back home before dusk. At a time when politicians are talking about digital technology,these children are dreaming of when they will be given the facilities to continue their online education. (HIRAN PRIYANKARA JAYASINGHE)


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  Comments - 12

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  • AB Monday, 30 November 2020 07:54 AM

    Free WiFi is failed UNP propaganda election promise but if this government can make it happen it's blessing for children who are struggling for home base education,invite other DM readers too to speak up on this issue

    Lord Wolfstein Monday, 30 November 2020 08:10 AM

    The greedy internet and mobile phone providers only think of their profit. The costs are among the most expensive in the world and the providers deliver poor service. Providers should only get a license if they commit to guarantee nationwide signal for the whole country.

    Dhiv Monday, 30 November 2020 08:15 AM

    Irresponsible and uncaring telecom companies like Dialog aren’t listening to the people. We have been complaining for years of lack of 4G signal and we live in Bamba! Our relations in Wella have the same issue. Can’t wait until mobile number switching policy comes, so that we can take alternative network with better 4G signal. All falling on deaf Dialog management years. They have so much money, yet they can’t afford to install mobile towers on apartments and other buildings. Very poorly managed, Dialog has deteriorated over the years

    A. Perera Monday, 30 November 2020 09:00 AM

    This is not a severe problem isolated to Moragahawewa. We live in Nedimala and have to often walk to our gate or to the top of our lane (in case of WhatsApp) to answer a call. I have to sit outside, in the porch to do my online work. We have been complain and making reports to the leading server for over 15 months but nothing has happened. These fellows are dishonest hucksters who need to be sued for breach of contract.

    FF Monday, 30 November 2020 09:04 AM

    OMG. POOR CHILDREN

    Bande Monday, 30 November 2020 09:14 AM

    Shame on you Mobile service providers in SL and so called rulers . They talk big on 4G and 5G but poor children in rural villages suffer this much every day. If you allocate a fraction on your billions of net profit a solution could be brought to these innocent children.

    DillonDP Monday, 30 November 2020 10:43 AM

    Well climbing 60feet for the Internet shows how dumb we are

    Pudumai Monday, 30 November 2020 02:56 PM

    The next news will be of accidental fall from the 60 ft. high water tank.

    joshua Monday, 30 November 2020 04:12 PM

    do not climb that high....our professori cannot see such a distance

    Lakmal Monday, 30 November 2020 10:15 PM

    Make it a mandatory to cover 100% of population. Otherwise impose a penalty till they provide it.

    Raththa Monday, 30 November 2020 10:18 PM

    All over the world fiber(FTTH) packages are unlimited. Then heavy users will move to fiber. Then operators can focus on providing coverage to rural area. Now they put money on expanding capacity in urban areas.

    Ajit Perera Wednesday, 02 December 2020 11:39 AM

    I suggest that the public sue Dialog for their uncaring, crass, crooked practices.


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