TV should be used to provide lessons

According to the Ministry of Education, to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, all schools are required to postpone the beginning of their new semesters, which should have started by the middle of this month, and teachers are encouraged to use the internet to deliver lessons to students at home.

This is a necessary measure to protect students and teachers. But it should not be forgotten that nearly half of the students coming from the rural areas might not have a computer at home, and a smartphone might be the only means in which a family is connected to the internet. Not to mention those living in remote areas who might not have a stable connection.

Even in cities, with brick-and-mortar schools closed, more parents are turning to expensive one-on-one online tutoring provided by lecturers employed by private schools, and teachers from public schools. Although public school teachers are banned from earning extra money from such part-time jobs, the huge market demand means there are always some trying to cash in on their knowledge and experience.

As the competition in the enrollment exams for high school and colleges will remain no less fierce in the summer, or postponed to autumn this year given the epidemic, the closing of schools may seriously affect some children's preparation for the exams, particularly those from low-income families.

Since the penetration of television is higher than that of computers, and the gap mainly stems from the needy families, the Education Ministry should make better use of its public education TV channel, which covers the whole country, to broadcast teaching and learning programs, which might be organized and launched by local government and education departments through local public TV channels as the courses are different among regions.

It is good to see that the China Education Network Television, the national-level education TV station, said it will start to do so from Monday. It is time for local authorities and TV channels to follow suit to let the poor children feel they are not forgotten.