Smart Classes in Raigarh: A Ground-Level Implementation Story from 33 Government Schools
Electricity availability in government schools is perhaps one of the most talked-about concerns whenever classroom digitisation is discussed. It is a challenge we hear about frequently, and during our own on-ground work, we have experienced it as well.
During the implementation of Smart Classes in Raigarh, one such moment occurred during a teacher training session when an electricity cut interrupted the session midway. However, what happened next was quite telling. Instead of dispersing, the teachers and students present waited patiently for the power to return so the session could continue.
It did not feel like a routine demonstration or a training exercise. Rather, it reflected a genuine curiosity and interest in understanding how the Smart Classes could become part of everyday teaching and learning. This is why we often say that while infrastructure challenges exist, the intent and willingness among teachers and students to engage with digital learning is already present.
This Smart Classes in Raigarh initiative comprises 33 government schools at multiple locations in the district as part of a CSR initiative by the social responsibility arm of a large-scale corporate organization.
Smart Classroom Infrastructure and Content
Each school under the initiative is equipped with a Samsung 65-inch Smart TV operating on the Tizen platform. The setup includes offline Smart Class content aligned with the Chhattisgarh Board digital learning content in Hindi medium for Classes 1 to 8. The content covered key subjects with animated explanations, practice questions, notes, assessment, interactive simulations and a lot more learning modules designed to support classroom teaching.
But what made this rollout distinctive was not only the scale, it was the response inside classrooms.
Since schools were spread across different villages, onsite cluster training sessions took place at five central locations.
As most teachers were already comfortable using televisions, there was little hesitation in adapting to the device or the Smart Class setup. They actively participated in the onboarding sessions and showed curiosity about exploring the digital content on their own. With teachers coming together from multiple locations, the sessions also became a space for discussion where they shared their individual concerns, exchanged experiences, and talked about how the Smart Classes in Raigarh would support their lesson delivery in regular classrooms.
Perhaps the most memorable moment during the training was when an unexpected electricity cut paused the session, yet teachers and students chose to wait for the power to return so the class could continue.
Key takeaway from Implementation of Smart Class in Raigarh
While the rollout was still underway, discussions had already begun to include 11 additional schools within the district. The possibility of expansion emerged during the implementation phase itself, reflecting growing confidence and interest at the ground level.
The experience in Raigarh shows that large-scale Smart Classroom initiatives in rural districts work most effectively when they follow thoughtful implementation and remain teacher- and student-centric.
Their impact grows when schools receive a complete digital learning solution – combining smart classroom hardware, curriculum-aligned digital content, an LMS, reporting tools, teacher training, and continuous support and guidance. Together, these elements ensure that digital infrastructure meaningfully supports everyday teaching and learning in classrooms.
