With students learning from home, some parents are struggling to provide the resources their kid needs. Some families don’t have electronic devices such as computers and cell phones, let alone stable internet access.
There is a significant gap between Nepal’s public and private colleges and their online education policies. Public colleges are still waiting for guidelines from the government, whereas private colleges have been conducting online classes with tools like Zoom and Google Meets for a while now.
The lockdown raises concerns among parents, especially those whose kids are enrolled in public colleges. Parents need to support and motivate their kids to engage in their online education by providing the space and resources necessary to do so though not all know how. We understand this is a tough time for parents and have created a guide on how best to support your child through online learning.
Gather essential electronic devices
Make a mental list of all the electronic devices available at your house (mobile phones, computer, tablet, etc). If you don’t have a computer, consider providing a smartphone so your kids can attend their classes. The government has rolled out weekly online classes for grades 9 and 10 via nationwide broadcast through NTV plus. For graduate students, however, laptops are a must. If you can’t afford a new laptop, consider buying a used one online. Hamrobazar is a popular and reliable place to buy new or used laptops and smartphones at a discounted price.
Arrange stable internet connection
Electronic devices are useless without stable internet connection. NTA’s MIS reported 16.67 million Nepalese are currently connected to the internet. However, this isn’t the case for students who traveled back to their villages where there’s no access to fiber-optic internet. If you have reliable internet connection at your house, arrange a dedicated study space closer to the router. If you don’t, no need to worry.
Telecommunication providers including Ncell and NTC have launched special data plans: Mobile Class Data Pack and e-Shikshya Package for students and teachers throughout the nation. They’re highly subsidized, easy to use, and the best alternative to fiber-optic internet.
Collect online resources
After setting up a stable internet connection, parents should help their kids collect resources recommended by their school. We have listed some free resources below that are extremely helpful too.
- Khan Academy: Free and suitable for students of all ages. Provides excellent, high-quality courses ranging from 1st grade maths to college economics, finance, computer science, and many more.
- Project Gutenberg: Consists of 60,000 free eBooks on a range of subjects. Perfect for saving money on reading material while home.
- Academic Earth: Provides advanced-level lectures in dozens of subjects at no cost.
- Open University of Nepal: In association with MERTLOT organization, offers free online courses in Arts, Humanities, Science and Mathematics, History, Social Sciences, Business, and more.
- Exam Sanjal: Provides online education learning materials for SEE and all levels. Children’s ebooks and a Digital Library also available.
- OleNepal: Social benefit organization that works to enhance quality education onsite and online through the integration of technology in classrooms. They design and develop educational content in all formats (ebook, audiobooks, videos, exercises) for free
Nepali parents go through countless challenges supporting their children’s education, and doing so has been especially hard during the pandemic. Luckily, there are many parents in this situation and many resources to deal with it. Parents, we’re here for you!
Read about how ➔ Parents Can Help Their Kids Thrive As Online Learners!
