With connectivity gains, government schools narrow digital divide

NEW DELHI: Government schools have made the sharpest gains in internet connectivity over three years, increasing coverage from 46.2% in 2023-24 to 63.1% in 2025-26 and narrowing their gap with aided and private schools from about 28 percentage points to around 16. Their share of functional smart classrooms also rose from 21.2% to 32.2%, though it remains below aided schools at 41% and private unaided schools at 39.9%.The latest UDISE+ report shows 67.4% of schools had internet facilities, up from 63.5% in 2024-25 and 53.9% in 2023-24, and that all schools in Goa have internet coverage while West Bengal lags at 19.7% in 2025-26.Excluding UTs, Andhra Pradesh followed Goa at 99.2% coverage, ahead of Tamil Nadu at 99%, Gujarat at 96.8% and Kerala at 92.6%. At the bottom, Bengal was followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 36%, Meghalaya at 36.4%, Manipur at 38.8% and Tripura at 42.5%.Goa rose from 87.6% in 2023-24 to full coverage and Andhra Pradesh from 93.9% to 99.2%. Among the bottom five, Meghalaya gained nearly 12 points and Tripura over seven, while Bengal edged up from 17.5% to 19.7%.Management-wise, internet access in govt-aided schools rose from 73.3% to 79.7% and private unaided coverage from 74.3% to 79.2%.A similar gap persists in computer availability. Overall, 69.9% of schools had computers in 2025-26 - 66.9% govt, 76.6% aided and 80% private unaided schools. For computers used for teaching, the shares were lower at 59.4%, 73.7% and 74%, respectively.Smart-classroom coverage nationally rose from 24.4% in 2023-24 to 33.9% in 2025-26. Govt schools posted an 11-point gain, compared with increases from 31% to 41% in aided schools and 34.6% to 39.9% in private schools.Digital libraries remained scarce, available in only 7.1% of schools - 5.7% govt, 10.4% aided and 11.2% private unaided institutions.The report says NE envisages schools equipped with "computing devices, internet, libraries" and other infrastructure to create "a safe, inclusive, and effective learning environment".Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.