A Closer Look at India’s School Infrastructure Report: Insights From UDISE+ 2023-24

The India’s 2023-24 School Infrastructure Report offers a comprehensive overview of the strides made and the gaps that persist in schools. The data in report is based on insights from the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2023-24.

While significant progress has been made in ensuring basic facilities such as gender-specific toilets and functional drinking water, the report underscores critical challenges in advanced infrastructure. Issues such as limited internet access and inadequate technology readiness highlight a significant digital divide. Additionally, the absence of inclusive infrastructure, such as ramps with handrails and functional desktops, underscores the accessibility gap.

The Persistent Digital Divide and Accessibility Challenges

In a world increasingly driven by technology, the limited availability of internet connectivity and digital devices in schools raises significant concerns about the preparedness of students for a 21st century learning environment. Additionally, the lack of ramps with handrails and inclusive facilities continues to hinder accessibility for students with disabilities, leaving room for substantial improvement in creating equitable learning environments.

Let’s Look at Some Key Data Points and Insights from India’s 2023-24 School Infrastructure Report

• Only 57.2% of schools have functional computers, 53.9% have internet access, and 52.3% are equipped with ramps. This highlight critical gaps in accessibility and infrastructure readiness
• The enrollment landscape has shifted, with the total number of students decreasing by 37 lakh to 24.8 crore in 2023-2024. Boys represent 51.9% of enrollments, while girls make up 48.1%
• School dropout rates increase from 5.2% at the middle school level to 10.9% at the secondary stage
• Out of 10.17 lakh government schools, only 3.37 lakh (33.2%) have disabled-friendly toilets, and among them, just 30.6% are functional
• According to the 2023-24 data from the (UDISE+) under the Ministry of Education, out of over 14.71 lakh schools in India, nearly 1.52 lakh schools lack functional electricity. Out of the 14.71 lakh schools, 10.17 lakh are government-run. Among these, 9.12 lakh have functional electricity, while 1.52 lakh do not have electricity access. Aside from government-run schools, there are 4.54 lakh government-aided, private, unaided, and other schools, of which 4.07 lakh have functional electricity
• Out of the 14.71 lakh schools, only 7.48 lakh (50%) have access to computers for teaching and learning. Additionally, 7.92 lakh schools have Internet access, while 8.41 lakh schools offer computer facilities.
• Only 17.5% of schools, or 2.57 lakh out of the total 14.71 lakh, have co-curricular activity rooms or arts and crafts facilities. In government schools, the figure is even lower, with just 9.9% of the 10.17 lakh schools having an arts and crafts room
• Out of the 2.86 lakh schools with secondary sections, only 1.6 lakh have an integrated science laboratory. Among the 1.19 lakh government secondary schools, 50.2% (59,972 schools) are equipped with a science lab facility.
• The adoption of solar panels in schools is also low, with only 1.54 lakh schools (10.5%) out of the total 14.71 lakh having solar panel facilities. In government schools, just 89,746 out of 10.17 lakh (8.8%) have installed solar panels

Data Source: The Hindu, Times of India

With the education landscape continuously evolving and the Ministry of Education introducing progressive changes in education policy, it’s eye-opening to realize that many schools still lack basic facilities. While the government is making commendable strides towards improving accessibility and inclusivity, there is a pressing need for greater collaboration from corporates, foundations, and large scale NGOs to further enhance school infrastructure. 

Way Forward as Suggested in the UDISE 2023-24 Report

1. Policy Implementation: Accelerate NEP 2020 initiatives to achieve universal Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) by 2030, with an emphasis on integrating skill-based education.
2. Inclusive Education: Promote equitable access to education for SC, ST, OBC, and minority students through focused and inclusive programs.
3. Teacher Training: Prioritize enhancing teacher quality and addressing gaps in the student-teacher ratio to ensure effective learning outcomes.
4. Infrastructure Optimization: Align school infrastructure with enrollment trends to ensure efficient use of resources and improved accessibility.
5. Monitoring and Data: Utilize student-level data tracking to identify dropouts and allocate resources more effectively.

At iDream Education, we recognize these challenges and are therefore highlighting practical ways aligned with the core principles of NEP 2020 and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan to resolve these gaps

Overcome Internet Barriers with Offline Digital Learning Solutions

One effective solution to address the issue of limited internet access in schools is enabling offline digital learning content that aligns with the curriculum. This allows teachers to seamlessly integrate digital resources into their teaching practices without the reliance on a constant internet connection. 

Boost Student Engagement to Enhance School Enrollment 

A major factor contributing to decreased school enrollment is the lack of student engagement. In the 21st century, students have shorter attention spans, making it crucial to find ways to keep them engaged throughout the year. One solution is to incorporate smart classrooms and personalized learning devices, which cater to individual learning styles. By offering adaptive learning, students can follow personalized learning paths, identify their own gaps, and work at their own pace to address historical learning gaps. This combination of smart classroom teaching and personalized learning can help schools maintain student engagement, fostering a sense of encouragement and, ultimately, boosting enrollment.

Implement Digital Learning Solutions with Minimal Dependence on Electricity

One effective way to enhance the learning experience while minimizing reliance on electricity. This can be achieved by enabling tablet, Chromebook, or laptop-based ICT labs. The smart ICT Lab setup is also suggested in the ICT scheme of Samagra Shiksha. These labs are designed to store and charge devices in a rack . These racks charge all the devices simultaneously using a single power plug. Once charged for 3-4 hours, the devices can be used for 7-8 hours, covering the entire school day. This solution ensures that digital learning can continue seamlessly without constant electricity access.

Address the Issue of Limited Functional Computers with Smart ICT Labs

The issue of limited functional computers in schools can be addressed by setting up smart ICT Labs. These are easy to set up, maintain, and use and can accommodate learning devices such as laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets. Unlike desktops, which rely on interconnected hardware like a mouse, CPU, and keyboard, these portable devices are more resilient. In a desktop setup, if one component fails, the entire system becomes unusable. In rural or remote areas, finding technicians is often challenging, and taking each part for repair can be difficult for teachers and school authorities. Portable devices, on the other hand, offer a practical solution by ensuring that teaching and learning can continue without interruption.

Foster Holistic Development Through Co-Curricular Digital Content

Holistic development goes beyond academics, emphasizing the importance of creativity, skills, and life lessons in every student’s journey. Regardless of whether they study in a private or government school, all students should have access to spaces for co-curricular activities. To make this accessible even for schools with limited space and resources, a practical solution is setting up digital libraries equipped with devices such as tablets/Chromebooks. On devices, digital content could include an extensive book library with genres for all interests, activity-based videos for creating DIY models using readily available materials, life skills and value education content, climate action courses, and more Co-Curricular content This can ensure a comprehensive setup for co-curricular activity rooms, fostering creativity, skills, and overall development.

Enable Science Learning with Practical Lab Videos

An integrated science laboratory is vital, especially for senior classes, where students can practically experiment with what they’ve learned. However, many schools still lack the resources to set up such laboratories. To address this, enabling practical lab videos on learning devices can be a viable option. While a fully equipped science lab may not always be available in schools, practical lab videos can empower students to visually experience and understand how different elements interact. Through this, they can gain essential practical knowledge and will be prepared to perform experiments when the opportunity arises.

Harness Solar Power for Sustainable Digital Learning Solutions

Electricity challenges in schools can be effectively addressed by setting up digital learning solutions powered by solar panels. This not only overcomes the limitation of unreliable electricity but also makes digital setups eco-friendly and accessible for all. However, collaborating with organizations such as R2V2, present an option to equip rural schools and households with solar panels. This approach will reduce the financial burden on government/implementing partners while empowering communities to actively participate in enabling education for their children.

At iDream Education, we are working to simplify the implementation of digital learning solutions in schools and at home learning

We collaborate with corporates, NGOs, governments, and other partners in the education ecosystem. From us you get customized products specific to the needs of your schools and projects, addressing the challenges highlighted in the School Infrastructure Report. Our solutions are designed in alignment with the core principles of NEP 2020, enabling schools to overcome barriers. They help create an inclusive, 21st-century learning environment with integrated reporting and monitoring. 

To learn more about how we can help you customize solutions for schools and improve their infrastructure, you may contact us at +91 7678265039. You can also share your details here or write to us at [email protected]

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