Students, teachers want better internet services for e-learning

With schools now closed indefinitely, teachers and students are calling for better internet services to facilitate e-learning activities. Additionally, they also want better prices, especially during this time when the COVID-19 pandemic has halted many economies around the world.
Teachers and students are arguing that the current internet services are not sufficient to effectively facilitate virtual classrooms and other e-learning measures.
As such, they are calling on service providers to put measures in place to ensure the internet speed is improved.
Moreover, they are also lobbying for more affordable prices especially for students and teachers of low-income families.
Dernique Vieira, a Communications student of the University of Guyana (UG), said that this epidemic has shown that Guyana needs more service providers, and those providing internet services need to restructure their plan.
“It’s sad that I had to cancel almost all of my classes because of how weak the internet is. What is more worrying is that some of us have lost our jobs due to this virus, which means we cannot afford a lot of things anymore. I was hoping that GTT would have some system in place to temporarily lower the cost of their services. Also, with how weak the internet is, the need to have a revamped look on their plans,” the student mentioned.
Meanwhile, Akelia Dey, a secondary school teacher, also shared similar views.
“I am saddened by GTT’s unscrupulous demands on customers. We are faithful customers who have been supporting this company for years. I am a very disgruntled customer and was there an option to choose another service, I would have opted out of my GTT service. I have been paying my GTT service every month up to date. As of recent, due to this COVID-19 and the budgetary shift, I was unable to commit to continuing paying [on] time…,” she noted.
According to Dey, she had asked GTT what systems the company would put in place for customers at this critical time since many people have been laid off or may not be getting a salary/wage this week. In response, the local telecommunications giant said they have extended the due dates for bills.
“That is unreasonable. If I don’t have [money] on the 10th, will I get it by the 17th?… Some of us, their loyal customers, are scraping to survive… Also, the internet connection is weak, every five minutes my internet drops…” she posited.
GTT had announced the closure of all its stores countrywide and implemented pay cuts across the board for staff.
The company had said it was unable to financially cushion the reduction of bill payments for customers. However, GTT – the country’s main internet service provider – has rolled out an initiative which will see healthcare workers benefiting from free mobile services.
Nevertheless, President of Starr Computer, Michael Mohan had recently stated that his company is ready to advance virtual education during this period.
He said, “We can solve this problem. Internet service is very expensive in Guyana…but if the Government was to step in to provide subsidies for students that will make a difference. We at Starr Computers have many different connections with major manufactures… and we have been able to convince them to subsidise the hardware that we carry in Guyana.”