Nima  | Zhemgang

Yeshi Lhaden and Dorji Lungten, teachers of Kikhar Primary School in Zhemgang visit 18 households in Kikhar once every two weeks to ensure that the students are learning at home.

In March, the schools were asked to close due to Covid-19. Since then, they have been visiting the households.

The journey begins at 9am. When all’s done, they return home. It is 5pm. It was hectic in the beginning. What they have now noticed is that the student’s interest in learning has reduced.

Sometimes they do not find students at home.

“Parents and students do not care anymore. They are less concerned about education. Parents are mostly farmers and they have turned their attention to farming,” said Yeshi Lhaden.

She added that the majority of students did not have access to smartphones and TV at home.

Poor internet connectivity is another major problem, especially in the rural parts of the country.

Phuntsho Wangdi, a student of Buli Central School, comes home in the evening after tending to cattle for lessons on television. That’s only sometimes. He now finds it convenient to ignore it.

“Digging the lessons this way is difficult. Connection is another problem,” he said.

Parents with children in lower grades feel that it would be better to let the children repeat next year.

Jamtsho, 56, from Dungbi, said that it was different with children in higher classes. “For many data is very expensive,” he said.

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