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Digital divide and access to online education: new evidence from Tamil Nadu, India

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Abstract

The pandemic and the long closure of educational institutions have changed the learning and teaching practices across the globe. A massive and unplanned shift towards online education with unequal access to digital infrastructure deepens the existing digital divide and socio-economic inequalities. Tamil Nadu Covid Pulse Survey shows the state’s commitment to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and continuing its welfare tradition including its efforts to provide uninterrupted education during the crisis. Based on the three recent rounds of the panel survey conducted in October 2020 and August 2021, this article discusses Tamil Nadu’s experience in continuing education during the pandemic. The result highlights the existing digital divide and challenges faced by students in accessing online education. Some of the government initiatives like Kalvi TV telecasting classes for school students have been effective in addressing the digital divide between rural and urban areas in the state and making its education system more inclusive.

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Notes

  1. Digital divide can reflect beyond access or use of digital technology; it implies integrating digital technology into meaningful social practices and gaining benefits out of it (Iivari et al. 2020).

  2. A telephone survey jointly conducted by Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) and the Department of Economics & Statistics, Government of Tamil Nadu to assess the impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown on the Tamil Nadu economy and society. TNCPS completed four rounds of surveys in June 2020, October 2020 February 2021, and August 2021 (Round I, II, III, and IV, respectively) across all the districts of Tamil Nadu. TNCPS provide reasonable and updated information on how Tamil Nadu’s education faced the pandemic.

  3. Kalvi TV (Kalvi Tholaikatchi): An initiative of Tamil Nadu School Education Department specially for government school children (available both on TV and online platforms) https://www.kalvitholaikaatchi.com.

  4. The Tamil Nadu Household Panel Survey (TNHPS) is designed as a longitudinal survey where a set of sample households in the state of Tamil Nadu will be surveyed at specific intervals to analyse the change in their socio-economic conditions over time. It was designed to begin with a pre-baseline survey, followed by a baseline survey (Wave-1) and subsequent periodic surveys (Wave- 2, Wave- 3, etc.). For details, see the final report of ‘Tamil Nadu Household Panel Survey (TNHPS)- Pre Baseline Survey (PBS) 2018-19’ jointly prepared by MIDS Chennai, SRC, University of Michigan and DES, Government of Tamil Nadu, October 2021.

  5. Round 4 followed selecting a proportional sample of rural households with same stratification to address the low representation of rural samples in previous rounds. The data and analysis presented in the paper refer to the last three rounds (online education was introduced during the 2nd round).

  6. Given the scope of this paper, more details on the measures followed in designing the sample, survey process, tools used and quality check at different stages of the study are not provided here. The same may be found in the final reports ‘Tamil Nadu Covid Pulse Survey’ (Round I, II, II and IV), jointly conducted by Madras Institute of Development Studies and Department of Economics & Statistics, Government of Tamil Nadu submitted to the government of Tamil Nadu.

  7. Government of Tamil Nadu has provided free laptop computers to all plus one, plus two and college students studying in Govt./Govt. aided institutions from 2011 onwards. The scheme was announced on 3.6.2011 and commenced on 15.9.2011 by the Special Programme Implementation Department and Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) in the state (Government of Tamil Nadu 2019).

  8. Compared to the uncertainty and strict lockdown restrictions faced in the early phase of COVID-19 wave-1 (covering rounds 1 and 2 of TNCPS), the later phase showed some improvements and resulted in the partial reopening of educational institutions and smoother transition with new forms of education. In our opinion, the emergence of new wave of COVID-19 (covering round 4 TNCPS) and flexibilities (online and offline mode was operational for some time) and other issues contributed to the pattern reported during round-4. Similarly, the change in rural-urban composition caused by adding more rural refreshment samples and other factors also contributed to this pattern.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge the support received from Government of Tamil Nadu and Department of Economics & Statistics team for conducting the Tamil Nadu Covid Pulse Survey. Authors thank TNHPS project team for the research assistance and blind reviewers for their detailed comments and suggestions. The views expressed are that of the authors and do not endorse or convey the views of the Government of Tamil Nadu.

Funding

Tamil Nadu Covid Pulse Survey was supported by the Government of Tamil Nadu, India.

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  1. Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, India

    K. Jafar, Kripa Ananthpur & L. Venkatachalam

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  1. K. Jafar
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  2. Kripa Ananthpur
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Appendix

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See Table 12

Table 12 Descriptive statistics of the nonlinear model variables.
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Jafar, K., Ananthpur, K. & Venkatachalam, L. Digital divide and access to online education: new evidence from Tamil Nadu, India. J. Soc. Econ. Dev. 25, 313–333 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40847-023-00236-1

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