The free Wi-Fi service during weekends for the students in Damphu town in Tsirang is benefiting the school-going children. Tsirang District Administration launched the free Wi-Fi facility coinciding with National Day last year as an initiative to keep the students meaningfully engaged during the weekends.
The free Wi-Fi facility is made available at the Damphu Municipal Office.
Tandin Penjor, a class XI student of Damphu Central School is a regular visitor to the centre. He downloads and reads notes on subjects taught in the classes. He said the free Wi-Fi has helped him gain knowledge that is beyond classroom learning.
“The free Wi-Fi is benefiting me immensely. We are able to download online notes and get the necessary information while writing homework and assignments. We even don’t have to rely much on our parents to recharge data like in the past,” he said.
Like Tandin, many other school-going children from the nearby schools are able to spend their weekends fruitfully, learning and exploring the internet.
“Nu 49 data package gets exhausted instantly and it cannot last even for two days. The free Wi-Fi provides us with a platform to revise and recollect what we have learnt in the classroom. For instance, we study a Novel called The Giver in class IX and we understand better when we watch the Novel’s explanations on YouTube,” said Tashi Lhamo, a student.
“It is quite expensive using data to download online academic resources. With Wi-Fi, we can download all necessary online information and notes within a short period of time. I don’t engage in online games or watch unwanted videos,” added Karma Yeshi.
For 16-year-old Sangay, apart from online studies, the free Wi-Fi service also helps him take online football coaching classes through online videos. He aspires to take part in the national football team selection this winter.
“In the absence of a trained football coach in Tsirang, I rely mostly on online football coaching. I was interested in soccer from a very young age and I am still passionate about the sport,” he said.
According to him, his failure to qualify for the national team selection in the past few years is because of his lack of knowledge. “But this time, I am hopeful of qualifying since I gained better tactics and skills through online coaching.”
However, some students do not make the best use of the facility. Some of them mostly engage in online games deviating their focus from studies and other healthy habits.
The internet is connected from the Tsirang District Administration and is open to students even on public holidays.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Phub Gyem
