With a lockdown in place in Pakistan, universities and educational institutions have also been closed down. More than 300 million students are at home across the globe, due to government directives. But soon after students were made to leave behind physical classrooms, virtual classes were launched leveraging applications such as ZOOM and Skype – but that doesn’t mean it was a welcome gesture. As students were made to log in online for lectures, they took to Twitter and shared their sentiments, making #wewantsemesterbreak to trend on the number one spot on Wednesday evening.
This is what the students have to say:
Students are simply not motivated in online classes.This isn’t an effective way to learn. The biggest disadvantage of taking online class is the absence of face 2 face interaction b/w teacher n their students. Lack of resources.#We_Want_Semester_Break @hecpkofficial pic.twitter.com/WaY0CqHIXV
— Muzzamil Bajwa (@muzzamil_bajwa) March 25, 2020
A very real concern is that students who live in remote areas do not have adequate access to internet
These online classes are complete wastage of time. The students from remote areas can't take classes and the students who have internet connection have also reservations on online classes. #We_Want_Semester_Break pic.twitter.com/AIQS8dqMDE
— Azaad (@azaad_____) March 25, 2020
One students shares that he has to travel 30 km just to take the online class
Just checkout this! 30 km travel for daily online classes!!
Or classes b wasi jis ka koi faida nhi..
Steps should be taken regarding this issue. #We_Want_Semester_Break #We_Want_Semester_Break pic.twitter.com/13XUokQTDe— Abdul Rafay (@AbdulRa60060819) March 25, 2020
Online classes are not possible with shortage of electricity and poor internet connection #We_Want_Semester_Break pic.twitter.com/1XR8qPNaNo
— Kashif (@KashifSharjil) March 25, 2020
One student shares how the lack of internet connection is particularly bad in the province of Balochistan
balochistan is only province in the world. where still in 2020 having no any facilities regard networks, other provinces moving toward 5G but balochistan have no network for only phone call #We_Want_Semester_Break
— Babar Baloch (@babarbaloch7087) March 25, 2020
Students have also started making memes on how bad the internet is during online classes
It’s safe to say, the students have spoken
Online study ka kiya faida. Hamain yeh na manzoor hai we want semester break.Thats it #We_Want_Semester_Break
— Sadoon Mirza (@MirzaSadoon) March 25, 2020