Online classes an issue in rural areas

Poor connectivity poses a challenge for those who live in remote locations

Due to the novel coronavirus epidemic, taking online classes has become a universal means for Chinese students to continue studying. But for those in remote and rural areas, poor access to the internet has become a great barrier.

"I wish I could surf the internet as easily as students living in cities," a high school student from Jianzhatan town, Qinghai province, using the alias Niang Ba was quoted as saying by news website qq.com.

Jianzhatan is a remote area with a sparse population sitting at a high altitude. The town has only 4,000 residents on 642 square kilometers of land. There's no broadband service or computer at Niang's home. Her family only has an old smartphone that has been used for many years.

While other students and parents choose from all kinds of online study platforms, rolled out by different companies during the epidemic, Niang is not aware of most of them.

According to her daily plan, four hours are set aside to take care of sheep and cattle and 90 minutes for housework.

"I read my books and do my homework from school while they graze the meadowland," she said, adding that she needs to catch up with them when they stray too far.

The time she goes online is when she uses her father's phone to watch a live English class at night.

"But the connection here is not stable," she said.

Despite this, her father spends 49 yuan ($7) a month for a no-limit data package for internet access.

"I want to go to college in the future, so I can't waste even one minute," Niang said. "But I would come back after graduation to become a teacher here because people from outside are not willing to come."