Digital technology is changing rural India’s education

Source: The post Digital technology is changing rural India’s education has been created, based on the article “Technology and the challenge of equitable education” published in “The Hindu” on 8th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

Context: The article discusses how digital technology, especially smartphones, is expanding in rural India. It highlights the potential of AI and digital tools in education. It stresses the need to educate mothers and create a roadmap to use technology for underprivileged students.

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What Is the Impact of Digital Technology on Rural India?

1. Smartphone Penetration: Rural smartphone ownership surged from 36% in 2018 to 84% in 2024, showing rapid digital adoption.
2. Educational Tools: During the COVID-19 pandemic, smartphones delivered texts, worksheets, and videos, ensuring educational continuity.
3. Long-Term Impact: The digital skills learned during the pandemic have persisted, shaping new learning methodsin rural communities.
4. New Digital Trends: Post-pandemic, interest in AI-based education is growing, opening new possibilities for learning in rural India.

What Challenges Remain in Educating the Underprivileged?

1. Limited Education of Mothers: Over 40% of mothers have studied less than class five, affecting their ability to help children.
2. Unclear Smartphone Ownership Among Mothers: The article does not clarify whether mothers of young children own smartphones, impacting digital learning at home.
3. School Attendance Issues: Many villages have a fragmented education system where students attend different types of schools or do not attend at all.
4. Profit-Driven Technological Innovations: Most education technologies are designed for profit, making access difficult for underprivileged communities.

How Can Technology Further Enhance Education?

1. Smartphone Accessibility: As 84% of rural households now own smartphones, digital education can expand further.
2. Sustained Digital Learning: Digital resources like virtual training and AI tools can continue enhancing education beyond pandemic use.
3. Supporting Mothers’ Education: Educating mothers with limited schooling can help strengthen children’s learning at home.
4. Organized Learning Models: Broadcast learning, tested in Maharashtra, can help organize group learning for rural students without access to structured education.

What Are the Economic Implications of Technological Innovations in Education?

1. Growing Digital Market: With most households already owning a smartphone, purchasing second devices may boost the digital economy.
2. Technology and Profit Barriers: For-profit models limit access to educational innovations where profit potential is low, restricting benefits for the poor.
3. AI and Hardware Costs: AI-driven education requires high-end hardware, increasing financial inequality and creating a new cost burden.
4. Investment for Equitable Access: Philanthropy alone is not enough; India needs a clear roadmap to ensure that technology benefits the most disadvantaged.

Question for practice:

Examine how digital technology is transforming education in rural India and the challenges that remain for underprivileged students.