Union Education Ministry has recently shared data regarding the number of children being deprived of digital education during the Covid-19 global pandemic. 14 million children in Bihar do not have any access to digital mode. States as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir have reported that nearly 70% children have no access to devices while Jharkhand and Karnataka have over 3 million children without device access. Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have reported over 0.55 m children who are out of school each while Rajasthan has identified over 1.8 lakh such children, as per data shared at the June 21 meeting. Assam, Jharkhand and Karnataka have identified that 31 lakh, 32.5 lakh and 31.3 lakh students, respectively, have no access to devices. Odisha has counted 15 lakh such students while Haryana has identified 10 lakh students without devices. Madhya Pradesh and J&K have said 70% of students have no access to devices while Maharashtra and Gujarat have cited 69% and 40% figures respectively. Chhattisgarh has reported 28.2% students without access to digital devices. While Uttarakhand has reported 2.1 lakh such students, the figure is at 1.8 lakh for Telangana and 96,074 for Andhra Pradesh.

With the Covid-19 graph eyeing downward, schools are thinking of re-opening in many states as many students are not getting education facilities. State governments of Bihar, Telengana and Uttar Pradesh have already decided to re-open their schools. The students have not been going to their respective schools since March 2020 and the continuation of online classes seems to be a hassle for many.

Although internet facilities are one of the major necessities in this digital era, India being a developing nation with a huge rural base, digitisation has happened only in the urban areas and is still a dream for many.

Speaking on this, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that no decision can be taken yet about opening schools as those below 18 years cannot be vaccinated as clinical trials for this age group is still on.

“We are facing some genuine concerns about carrying out the vaccination drive. In the present scenario, clinical trials are still on to validate the vaccine for the below 18 year age group… how can any state government take any decision at this point of time about schools and colleges where those below 18 years are studying,” he said.

He, however, said that the state government was contemplating to reopen higher educational institutions in the first phase of reopening of educational institutions in the state. “Even to do this, we are thinking of first intensifying our vaccination drive for the 18 years and above age group besides vaccinating teachers and other staff members of colleges,” he added.

On the other hand, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria has said that schools should be re-opened as it has really affected the younger generation in terms of knowledge and marginalised sections of the society who do not have access to online classes and are suffering. 

Also Read: Over 50% Indian students don’t have access to Internet: Survey