Online education in rural Monaragala When 4G reception is a ‘distant dream’ on a rock

Children in Monaragala have to tread on unsafe territory in search of better reception to follow online education 

The COVID-19 pandemic has largely impacted school education in Sri Lanka. Students who are preparing for the Ordinary Level (O/Ls) and the Advanced Level Examination (A/Ls) - two decisive examinations in their lives- have faced a challenging with regard to following online classes. Even though teachers in suburban areas teach using online technology, rural schoolchildren have encountered various issues for several reasons. 

Bolgalla, a village in the Madulla Divisional Secretariat in the Monaragala district, is located not far from Monaragala city and has significantly less facilities. Teachers in the area teach children via the online facility, but due to the lack of clear reception (low signals) in the village they have faced numerous issues. Their parents said that as a result these children  have to tread on unsafe territory, to places several kilometres away from the village, in search of better reception.

They gather at the only two places in the village which give them clear reception to attend online classes. One area is a rock named Mahapudana which is 3 kilometres from the village,”
- Madulla PS member D. M. Jayathilaka

Madulla PS member D. M. Jayathilaka said that 255 families in Pagura division and 300 families in Thampalawa division suffer due to lack of clear reception. “People from Pubbara, Keenagoda areas in Medagama DS division have also suffered as a result for a long period. Children in these villages have faced several issues due to COVID-19. They gather at the only two places in the village which give them clear reception to attend online classes. One area is a rock named Mahapudana which is 3 kilometres from the village. The other area is a rubber forest on a mountain. Both these locations are unsafe. These children have no choice, but to take the risk,” said Jayathilaka.
D. M. Chanaka Srimali from Bolgalla village, who is an A/L student learning in Technology stream, in Obbegoda Vidyalaya, said that their teachers are conducting online classes at present. “As there is no clear reception we climb upon a rock in the village so that we get better reception. The path to the rock is through a forest. We go in groups accompanied by an elder. We would be really grateful if we can have a good reception in our village,” said Srimali.

R. M. Menaka Chathura Kumara, an O/L student from Pagura, said that the school syllabus has not been covered yet. “Our teachers conduct online classes and we have to come to Mahapudana rock as there is no signal in our village. It is not easy to reach the rock as it is risky. We have no choice, but to come here,” Kumara said.
Dilini Anuththara from Bolgalla, who is following a course in English, said that lessons are taught online. “As there is no signal I could not continue with the course. Other children, who are taught using online technology, come to this rock for better reception. As they cannot come alone I accompany them with some elders. It is the rainy season and they suffer a lot. They also cannot attend classes held at night. We would be much obliged if the President and the subject minister can intervene and provide us with 4G signal,” said Anuththara. 

Children walking along a jungle path to get to a place which provides better reception

It is the rainy season and they suffer a lot. They also cannot attend classes held at night. We would be much obliged if the President and the subject minister can intervene and provide us with 4G signal,”
- Dilini Anuththara

Our teachers conduct online classes and we have to come to Mahapudana rock as there is no signal in our village. It is not easy to reach the rock as it is risky,”
- R. M. Menaka Chathura Kumara

As there is no clear reception we climb upon a rock in the village so that we get better reception. The path to the rock is through a forest. We go in groups accompanied by an elder”
- D. M. Chanaka Srimali