A girl takes notes during a virtual class from the top of a hill from where she and her siblings can get signal on their mobile phones, in the Peruvian Andes. Bolivia is considered one of the most dire countries in the region for Internet access in households with children, according to the ECLAC, which also names El Salvador, Paraguay and Peru. — AFP
LA PAZ: For Sergio Meruvia, a 15-year-old student in Bolivia, staying up to date with school means selling hand sanitiser on the street to help pay for the expensive Internet services his family now needs to continue his classes.
Meruvia is one of three million students enrolled in virtual classes in the South American nation, according to UNESCO data, as schools stay closed for the year due to the coronavirus pandemic. This dependence on pricey, yet often unreliable, Internet services means families living in poverty have an even bigger financial burden to maintain their children’s education.
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