Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Fibre Optical Network (K-FON), a public-funded initiative of the Kerala Government, has yet again failed to provide internet connections to public schools in the state as promised.
The project officials, in their latest round of assurances to the General Education Department, said that the internet connection would be provided to high schools and higher secondary schools with high-tech classrooms before October 30. However, only one-third of the total schools have been extended high-speed broadband internet access so far. Most LP and UP schools have yet to get internet access. These school managements have met the expenses themselves and bought internet connections from outside to facilitate study activities.
The new promise issued by the K-FON officials the other day during a review meeting presided over by the Chief Minister was that the connection would be provided to all the schools this month itself.
KITE (Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education), the Special Purpose Vehicle of the Education Department, had provided free BSNL connections to 4752 schools with smart classrooms using the KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board) funds until the close of the previous academic year. The BSNL connections, though slow, were provided even to LP and UP schools. However, the BSNL connections were cut in March itself, following the direction to shift to K-FON, the state government’s proposed internet service, from this academic year onwards.
KITE had provided a list of 13,957 schools to K-FON officials, which should have provided the connection by July 2022 itself.