MySuru: In the era of digital education, only 7.7 percent of government schools in the state have internet access and only 34.3% have functional computer facilities.
These are some findings in the 2019-20 report on Unified District Information Systems for Education (Udise +).
Even though the survey was conducted before the pandemic, experts believed that it was more or less, reflecting the current government school status.
Conversely, 62.4 percent of private schools without assistance have the internet and 68.4 percent have a functioning computer laboratory.
MS Thimmappa, an academic and former Vicechancellor University of Bangalore, said that the government must seriously see this digital divide.
“The government has funds; implementation is the only challenge.
Our policy makers must see this kind of challenge.
The school does not have an internet connection because of corruption or ignorance.
We need to improve this,” he said.
He added that the lack of facilities put government school students in a unfavorable position compared to private school students.
According to Udise + reports, only 3,862 of 49,834 government schools have internet access.
Of the 20,069 schools without personal help, 12,530 has this facility.
There are 7,244 private government assisted private schools in the state, and 2,623 of them have clean connections.
The report stated that 17,130 the government, 4,882 aided private and 13,739 schools without personal assistance had a functional computer laboratory.
In Chamarajanagar, which has a considerable tribal population, only five governments and 36 schools without private assistance that have clean connections.
In the Kodagu district and Shivamoggga, nine and 86 government schools each have access.
Chandrashekar Nuggi, Secretary General of the Government Teacher Association, said that most students registered in government schools come from classes that are economically weaker and socially retreat.
“We are aware of the situation (lack of facilities).
That’s why we oppose the internet-based learning system,” he added.