Online Schooling Grappling With Telecom Infrastructure Deficit

Poor communication infrastructure in some less-developed areas has caused challenges in online schooling, aggravating educational inequality in Iran.
Mohammad Ali Vaqei, the head of South Khorasan Education Department, said the low quality of internet services in rural schools has made e-learning more about the hassle of uploading and downloading content rather than learning, IRNA reported.
He emphasized that social distancing is encouraged during the coronavirus pandemic, hence speedy internet is a necessity.
Vaqei called on the ICT Ministry and its affiliates to streamline internet access for less-developed areas as soon as possible, to help achieve this goal.
To increase the speed and quality of internet, plus slashing the service costs, Vaqei proposed the establishment of regional or provincial data centers. 
“Reducing the burden on data centers and restricting the local internet traffic in provinces are among the benefits of local data centers,” he added.
Noting that a large number of households in rural, border and tribal areas are economically constrained, Vaqei said internet connection for these students should be free of charge.