A study conducted by the Azim Premji Foundation reveals that nearly 60% of Indian schoolchildren lack access to online learning opportunities, highlighting the persistent digital divide exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This gap has posed significant challenges to remote teaching and learning since the onset of the pandemic, forcing schools and colleges to shift educational activities online.
According to experts, despite technology’s role in sustaining learning during the pandemic, the digital divide remains a major hurdle, described as an ‘operational nightmare.’ The study underscores that even among urban private school students, half of the parents faced issues with internet connectivity and speed, while a third cited concerns over the high cost of mobile data.
A national survey by ICRIER and LIRNE Asia further revealed that only 20% of school-age children in India had access to remote education during the pandemic, with only half participating in live online lessons. Moreover, COVID-19 caused a significant increase in the school dropout rate, impacting 38% of households, where at least one child dropped out due to pandemic-related challenges.
Education experts like Amruta Singh emphasize the urgent need to address critical issues in both traditional and digital schooling to build a more resilient education system for the future. Sangeeta Gadre, a Delhi University professor, highlighted that the digital divide affects both teachers and students, with women disproportionately disadvantaged in digital device usage.
Urvashi Sahni from the Brookings Institution stressed that while technology holds promise for improving learning outcomes and achieving universal quality education, bridging the digital and gender divides is crucial for realizing its full potential. Despite the benefits of technology, many educators and experts agree that remote learning remains fraught with challenges and cannot fully replace traditional classroom learning.
As the world embraces the information age, access to technology and the internet is increasingly seen as a necessity rather than a luxury, underscoring the need for concerted efforts to overcome the digital barriers hindering inclusive education in India.
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