In Maharashtra, Class 11 Girl Hung Herself Because Her Parents Couldn’t Afford A Phone For Her Online Education
With the pandemic, every industry has been affected. Where some have found their footing, the others are still learning how to survive. And one such industry is the educational sector. There is no doubt that educational institutions have not only undergone a heavy change but also changed the way students learn. While there are benefits to these institutions going online, there is no denying that many families cannot afford online education – especially because it requires laptops, phones and internet connections, everything might not be accessible to everyone right now.
On one end there are families trying to make ends meet, and on the other, they’re constantly worried about arranging resources for their children so they can get an education, which has moved online, for the most part. From having a mobile phone, laptop to having a good internet connection, these are resources that cost a lot of money. And the pressure is not just on parents. Even children who really want to study but can not afford these resources are taking drastic measures, to get an education. But sometimes, it goes too far.
Recently, a 17-year-old girl wanted to attend her online classes, but due to their financial situation the parents could not afford to buy a new phone and so she hanged herself and took her own life. The class 11 girl in Nanded, Maharashtra got upset after learning that her parents couldn’t buy her a phone and she wouldn’t be able to attend her online classes.
The girl had secured 75% in her class 10 and wanted to study further. She wanted to study further so she went to her father and asked her for a new phone. Her father is a daily wage labourer who did not earn enough to buy a new phone. On learning this, the girl took the decision to end her life.
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In the wake of the pandemic, most of the educational institutions not only conducted online classes but also conducted online exams that forced many of the families to buy mobile phones and laptops that don’t fit their budget.
Hers is not the first case that we’ve read. Many such students have given up their life because their parents are unable to provide them with gadgets and resources they might need for their online education.
The education system has to still come up with a better way of dealing with the pandemic situation. They need to make better arrangements and keep in mind the section of society that isn’t able to afford online education.
