Student Thankful For Govt’s Free Data Plan Initiative

An Year 13 student of Malau, Labasa said she was overjoyed when the Govern­ment announced the $20-monthly data top-up support for students.

Government in partnership with Amalgamat­ed Telecom Holdings Limited (ATH) would pro­vide close to 8000 Year 13 students $20 worth of monthly data top-up, this was revealed during the Budget announcement by the Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum last week.

Labasa College student, Annika Chetty said the pandemic had really affected students like her in their studies and educational advance­ment as they were finding it hard to cope with the sudden change in their learning environ­ment.

Ms Chetty said she would at times think twice before spending money on unnecessary buy­ing as she would collect money to recharge her phone.

“When the announcement was made, I was relieved that I would now be able to access my learning resources without much hesitation and financial tension,” she said.

“We have daily online sessions during the weekdays with our teachers as they discuss the contents and subject materials through zoom meet sessions, so the need for mobile data was massive”.

The 18-year-old said her father, who was the sole breadwinner of the family, would use the majority of his wages to cater for their food and basic needs.

“Her brother, a year 10 student also at Labasa College would at times ask her for assistance in researching for his study materials on her phone, so the help is indeed a boost towards their studies,’’ she said.

Ms Chetty who plans to pursue a career in nursing said the current pandemic would not deter her from reaching her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse.

“During this pandemic, our nation has suf­fered a lot with the number of mortalities and the passion to become a nurse in the future en­couraged me more.

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