In California, WiFi minivans help disadvantaged students

Reyna (left) and Watson with one of their company vans equipped as a mobile Wifi Hotspot to help students access Internet to remotely attend their classes, in Santa Ana, California. — AFP

SANTA ANA, United States: A minivan with a WiFi router attached to the dashboard and a satellite antenna on the roof is helping 200 disadvantaged students in Santa Ana, close to Los Angeles, cope with the rigors of distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

“When the school district launched the new school year last month, some of the parents had challenges,” said Roman Reyna, who is overseeing the “WiFi on wheels” project launched by JFK Transportation, which organises school runs in the district.