Kerala colleges to equip freshers with gadgets
Image is used for representational purpose only. KOCHI: As online classes appear to be the sole medium to learn due to the pandemic, ensuring students have digital devices and connectivity for uninterrupted access to online sessions has become the priority of most educational institutions.
Many colleges in the city that will have new admissions soon plan to ensure that the newcomers have laptops/tablets and net connectivity at the time of admission itself. Colleges intend to prepare a list of students who don't have these facilities and help them with the support of well-wishers and sponsors along with a contribution from the college and the concerned students.
Insisting students to own a laptop was a common practice followed by most colleges that operated courses such as BSc. Computer Science, BBA, and BCA, but now the same apply to students across all streams. Most institutions have already conducted surveys among their students to identify those who are struggling to have access to online sessions.
Bharata Mata College, Thrikkakara near Kochi is planning to roll out the second phase of a Digital Challenge aimed at providing tablets and connectivity to students with the help of elected representatives. "This is in addition to the funds collected from PTA, former students, and retired teachers associations. The college and the students, who are in need of the devices, will share the cost. The college governing council will be discussing it soon," said a college official.
Fr. Prasant Palakkappillil, principal, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, said that they will bulk-purchase laptops to avail discount. "Students will be given the option to pay the amount in monthly installments. At present, there are no requests made by the students but we will be looking at the situation when admission begins," he said.
PK Ravindran, governing council chairman of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, said that the teachers have helped many students to buy new devices. "Students who are unable to buy a laptop, tablet, or smartphone have to inform the college authorities. We will be trying to get sponsorships from well-wishers," he said.
Many colleges in the city that will have new admissions soon plan to ensure that the newcomers have laptops/tablets and net connectivity at the time of admission itself. Colleges intend to prepare a list of students who don't have these facilities and help them with the support of well-wishers and sponsors along with a contribution from the college and the concerned students.
Insisting students to own a laptop was a common practice followed by most colleges that operated courses such as BSc. Computer Science, BBA, and BCA, but now the same apply to students across all streams. Most institutions have already conducted surveys among their students to identify those who are struggling to have access to online sessions.
Bharata Mata College, Thrikkakara near Kochi is planning to roll out the second phase of a Digital Challenge aimed at providing tablets and connectivity to students with the help of elected representatives. "This is in addition to the funds collected from PTA, former students, and retired teachers associations. The college and the students, who are in need of the devices, will share the cost. The college governing council will be discussing it soon," said a college official.
Fr. Prasant Palakkappillil, principal, Sacred Heart College, Thevara, said that they will bulk-purchase laptops to avail discount. "Students will be given the option to pay the amount in monthly installments. At present, there are no requests made by the students but we will be looking at the situation when admission begins," he said.
PK Ravindran, governing council chairman of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, said that the teachers have helped many students to buy new devices. "Students who are unable to buy a laptop, tablet, or smartphone have to inform the college authorities. We will be trying to get sponsorships from well-wishers," he said.
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