Comparative Study of Digital Inequality of Schooling in Different States of India

India is one of the countries in the world where digital inequality in schooling has been manifested during Covid-19. Because of the closure of schools, the whole educational system completely relies on online teaching and learning, and the country was not prepared to tackle the situation. The schooling system witnessed differences in ICT access related to students’ socio-economic status, gender, rural-urban divide and public-private schooling. Many studies confirm that there is very limited accessibility to the internet as well as the availability of digital devices among students and schools across the country. A study by DISE, 2019-2020, outlines a mere 22 per cent of schools have internet access, while government institutions fare much worse at 11 per cent. In a survey of 15 states conducted in August 2021 by the School Team found that hardly 8 per cent of primary and upper primary school children in rural areas and 23 per cent in urban areas have access to online education. Apart from the rural-urban divide, there is a range of deficits that different states suffer from the problem of the internet. The digital divide was reflected in such a manner that the teachers did not have even the required devices and knowledge about online education. In view of digital divide found in different states of India, the article will elaborate the issues, challenges and opportunities of the availability of internet facilities and accessibility of digital instruments among various social groups of India.