Staff Reporter:
A petition was filed in the Balochistan High Court (BHC) against online classes in educational institutions by higher education commission in the province. The Baloch Students Organization (BSO) has challenged the HEC’s decision to hold online classes across the province in the aftermath of the novel coronavirus.
The HEC launched online classes across the country with an objective to save precious time of students after the outbreak of COVID19.
Most of the areas in Balochistan are deprived of internet facility and unannounced load-shedding has further compounded the problems of students, counsel for BSO, Mir Attaullah Langove mentioned in the petition. Mr. Langove has further elaborated that ratio of poverty and unemployment remains high in Balochistan and the students could not afford to purchase smartphones or laptops to participate in the online classes.
Senior lawyers Kamran Murtaza, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Najam Uddin Mengal advocate, barrister Muzzafar Umrani and other senior lawyers have also signed the petition challenging the online classes in the province.
HEC, education department and other concerned quarters have been made party in the petition.
Students across Balochistan have staged protest demonstrations against online classes and demanded of the government to first restore internet facility and then launch online classes.