Indian internet too slow and patchy to aid online teaching, says QS report
The Indian Internet infrastructure isn't ready for the paradigm shift to online learning mandated by the problem arising because of COVID-19, according to a written report by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), which comes out with coveted global ranking for educational institutions.
The report titled "COVID-19: A wake up call for telecom service providers" is founded on a survey conducted by QS I Guage, which rates colleges and universities in India with complete operational control held by London-based QS.
The report pointed out connectivity and signal issues as the most prevailing problems faced by students while attending classes on the web.
"The survey remarked that the infrastructure in conditions of technology in India hasn't achieved a state of quality to be able to ensure sound delivery of classes on the web to students in the united states. It really is seen that both state and the private players have not yet were able to overcome technical challenges, for example, in providing adequate power and ensuring effective connectivity as the info reveals," the report said.
"Although, as a result of outbreak of COVID-19, the world had witnessed a massive shift from the original In person (F2F) to online platform as a mode of delivery of classes. Due to insufficient proper infrastructure, a shift to a total reliance on the online platform for the delivery of lectures appears to become a distant dream," it added.
Based on the report, the survey with over 7,600 respondents discovered that in order to use internet in the home, 72.60 percent of the respondents use mobile hotspot, 15 personal computer use home broadband, 9.68 laptop or computer use WiFi dongle and 1.85 laptop or computer have poor to no internet connectivity.
"The data revealed that among the respondents who used home broadband, over 3 pc faced cable cuts, 53 pc faced poor connectivity, 11.47 personal computer faced power issues and 32 laptop or computer faced signal issues. When it found mobile hotspot, 40.18 laptop or computer faced poor connectivity, 3.19 pc faced power issues and 56.63 laptop or computer faced signal issues.
"Studies and reports regarding the consumption of power by the state authorities reveal that the states aren't using power entirely because of COVID-19 situation thereby leaving a surplus supply for private entities and public," it said.
Schools and colleges were closed in the united states ahead of nationwide lockdown announced on March 24 to contain the spread of coronavirus. The lockdown has been extended till May 3.
"The training sector is amongst the countless which has taken a strong blow due to the COVID-19 situation. Forget about are the stakeholders involved in higher education able to function conventionally and the chance of operating back again to the status quo seems quite uncertain. In such a time, the only recourse that universities and institutions around the world are resorting to is that of functioning online," the report said.
Source: www.deccanchronicle.com
