Analysis of Schools with PCs and Integrated Teaching Learning Devices in India – A Comprehensive Overview Based on UDISEPlus 2021-22 Data

Introduction

With advancements in technology, the implementation of digitization in the education sector has increased its momentum. The Utilization of Personal Computers (PCs) equipped with functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices is a testament to this development. In today’s digital age, the availability of PCs with Functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices (ITLDs) in schools plays a crucial role in promoting quality education and enhancing learning outcomes.

India/ State/ UT	Table 1: Total Number of Schools (UDISEPlus 2021-22)
	Total Number of Schools (All Managements)	Government Schools	Government Aided Schools	Private Unaided Schools	Other Types of Schools
India	1489115	1022386	82480	335844	48405
Andaman and Nicobar Islands	416	342	2	72	0
Andhra Pradesh	61948	45137	1542	15058	211
Arunachal Pradesh	3603	2985	68	503	47
Assam	60859	45490	3841	5852	5676
Bihar	93165	75558	742	8097	8768
Chandigarh	233	123	7	76	27
Chhattisgarh	56512	48743	417	7063	289
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	460	388	8	63	1
Delhi	5619	2762	247	2610	0
Goa	1510	814	557	139	0
Gujarat	53851	34699	5590	13559	3
Haryana	23726	14562	16	8261	887
Himachal Pradesh	18028	15380	0	2646	2
Jammu and Kashmir	28805	23173	1	5526	105
Jharkhand	44855	35840	1175	1559	6281
Karnataka	76450	49679	7110	19650	11
Kerala	16240	5010	7183	3164	883
Ladakh	978	838	28	112	0
Lakshadweep	38	38	0	0	0
Madhya Pradesh	125582	92695	740	30345	1802
Maharashtra	109605	65639	24037	19268	661
Manipur	4617	2889	583	1010	135
Meghalaya	14600	7783	4172	2120	525
Mizoram	3911	2563	230	1034	84
Nagaland	2718	1960	0	757	1
Odisha	62291	49072	5807	6104	1308
Puducherry	736	422	33	281	0
Punjab	27701	19259	450	7978	14
Rajasthan	106373	68948	0	34826	2599
Sikkim	1259	864	19	376	0
Tamil Nadu	58801	37636	8323	12396	446
Telangana	43083	30023	700	12193	167
Tripura	4929	4262	43	363	261
Uttar Pradesh	258054	137024	8113	97808	15109
Uttarakhand	22815	16484	608	5225	498
West Bengal	94744	83302	88	9750	1604

Integrating functional Personal Computers (PCs) with Integrated Teaching Learning Devices has become paramount in Indian schools, especially in online education and the widespread use of digital devices for teaching and learning, both within the school premises and at home. In today’s digital age, these technologies serve as powerful tools that bridge the educational gap, ensuring equitable access to quality education across diverse regions of India. PCs equipped with integrated teaching and learning devices empower educators with interactive and multimedia-rich content, enabling students to explore a world of knowledge at their fingertips. Moreover, in the era of remote and hybrid learning, these tools facilitate seamless communication and collaboration between teachers and students, fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment. Embracing this digital revolution in education enhances academic outcomes and equips students with essential digital literacy skills, preparing them for the challenges of the modern world. Thus, the effective amalgamation of PCs and integrated teaching-learning devices is pivotal in reshaping the educational landscape of India, making learning more accessible, engaging, and relevant.

This article analyzes the data on the number of schools with PCs and ITLDs in India for 2021-22, obtained from UDISEPlus. The focus is on understanding the prevalence of PCs with ITLDs in schools at the national level and among different types of schools, followed by a state-wide examination. The data reveals critical insights into the state of technological infrastructure in schools in India by management types. Government, Government-aided, private Unaided, and Other Managements are the management types by which PCs with Functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices are available through the UDISEPlus.

National Overview on Integrated Teaching Learning Devices

In India, out of 1,489,115 schools, 99,564 have been provided with PCs with functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices. In percentage terms, it significantly means only 6.7 percent of all schools have such facilities. The data further bifurcates the schools into four categories: Government schools, Government-aided schools, Private unaided schools, and Other types of schools. Herein, Government schools account for 3.6 percent, while the percentage for Government-aided schools is 12.5 percent. The private unaided schools show a rate of 15 percent, and other school types present a share of 3.8 percent, indicating a higher prevalence in private unaided schools.

When examining the breakdown by school management type in absolute terms, the data indicates that 47,430 government and aided schools, 50,316 private unaided schools, and 1,818 other types of schools have functional PCs with ITLDs. Additionally, out of the total number of government schools, 37,112 are Government, and  10318 are government-aided.

India/ State/ UT	Table 2: Schools having PCs with Functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices, UDISEPlus 2021-22
	Total Number of Schools	Government Schools	Government Aided Schools	Private Unaided Schools	Other Types of Schools
India	99564	37112	10318	50316	1818
Andaman and Nicobar Islands	58	37	0	21	0
Andhra Pradesh	5432	1153	62	4197	20
Arunachal Pradesh	234	120	7	102	5
Assam	1015	557	10	441	7
Bihar	1723	180	11	1055	477
Chandigarh	93	42	3	40	8
Chhattisgarh	1507	733	12	758	4
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	51	21	3	27	0
Delhi	1988	789	55	1144	0
Goa	155	18	109	28	0
Gujarat	12196	5067	1911	5218	0
Haryana	2734	687	2	1945	100
Himachal Pradesh	1339	781	0	558	0
Jammu and Kashmir	1343	632	0	707	4
Jharkhand	1302	553	27	341	381
Karnataka	6405	1496	582	4327	0
Kerala	2111	418	544	1014	135
Ladakh	65	44	0	21	0
Lakshadweep	10	10	0	0	0
Madhya Pradesh	3631	505	28	3043	55
Maharashtra	15307	3833	5568	5785	121
Manipur	208	29	2	171	6
Meghalaya	273	60	123	71	19
Mizoram	86	47	14	23	2
Nagaland	164	48	0	116	0
Odisha	2087	805	152	968	162
Puducherry	168	63	10	95	0
Punjab	5843	3678	38	2126	1
Rajasthan	6333	2151	0	4144	38
Sikkim	235	158	2	75	0
Tamil Nadu	9635	4441	788	4297	109
Telangana	5045	4159	25	859	2
Tripura	138	71	3	59	5
Uttar Pradesh	5662	478	195	4896	93
Uttarakhand	1141	326	21	786	8
West Bengal	3847	2922	11	858	56

State-wise Insight of Integrated Teaching Learning Devices

Parsing through the UDISEPlus data of different states, we see considerable variability in implementing PCs with functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands presents an encouraging picture, with 13.9 percent of all schools equipped with these devices. Protruding from the national trend, in Andaman, even the Government schools show a higher usage rate at 10.8 percent. However, states like Uttar Pradesh reveal a need for enhancing the penetration level, as the overall school percentage is a meager 2.2 percent. In contrast, Uttarakhand and West Bengal perform reasonably well, with 5 percent and 4.1 percent of all schools having the prescribed facilities, respectively. It’s worth noting that Arunachal Pradesh impressively records 20.3 percent of other schools (non-government and non-private) utilizing these learning tools. Andhra Pradesh is also performing strongly, reaching 8.8 percent, surpassing the national average.

A state-wide analysis of a few states is presented below:

Rajasthan: Of 106,373 schools, 6,333 (6 percent) are equipped with PCs with Integrated Teaching Learning Devices. Government schools score 3.1 percent, whereas private unaided schools fare significantly better at 11.9 percent.

Sikkim: With an impressive rate of 18.7 percent, Sikkim performs well among the states. Government (18.3 percent) and Other (20 percent) schools utilize these devices more than the private unaided ones at 10.5 percent.

Tamil Nadu: Amidst 58,801 schools, 9,635 (16.4 percent) have the said facilities. The distribution presents a compelling picture, with Private Unaided and Other schools reaching 34.7 percent and 24.4 percent, respectively, significantly surpassing the less impressive Government schools at 11.8 percent.

Telangana: Of 43,083 schools, 5,045 (11.7 percent) have adopted PCs with functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices. Here, the Government schools segment shines with a notable 13.9 percent compared to Private Unaided at 7.1 percent.

Madhya Pradesh: Among 125,582 schools, 3,631 (2.9 percent) own PCs with functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices. Government-aided and Private unaided schools are at 3.8 percent and 10 percent, respectively, with the latter leading the way.

Maharashtra: A strong performer, with 15,307 (14 percent) out of 109,605 schools equipped with the requisite technology. Interestingly, Private Unaided (30 percent) and Government aided (23.2 percent) sectors show a commendable adoption rate.

Manipur: Out of 4,617 schools, 4.5 percent have effectively incorporated PCs with Functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices. The Private Unaided schools yet again surpass with a 16.9 percent inclusion rate.

Meghalaya: With 1.9 percent of overall schools having the necessary equipment, Meghalaya’s Government schools’ adoption rate of 0.8 percent is particularly dismal, while the Private Unaided figure stands a little better at 3 percent.

Uttar Pradesh: With the most significant number of total schools at 258,054, Uttar Pradesh presents a bleak picture, with only 2.2 percent of schools equipped with PCs having Integrated Teaching Learning Devices. Private unaided schools hold a slightly higher percentage of 5 percent, revealing the urgent need to improve government schools’ digital infrastructure.

Uttarakhand: In comparison, Uttarakhand, with a total of 22,815 schools, situates better, with 5 percent of overall schools having PCs with these devices. Government schools, with an adoption rate of 2 percent, still trail behind private, unaided schools with a 15 percent implementation rate.

West Bengal: Out of 94,744 schools, 4.1 percent have the facilities mentioned in West Bengal. Government schools lag with a 3.5 percent rate, while private unaided schools show a slightly improved percentage of 8.8 percent.

Jharkhand: With a 2.9 percent overall score among its 44,855 schools, Jharkhand has a notable figure for private unaided schools at 21.9 percent. It indicates that private schools in the state are more receptive to adopting digital tools.

Karnataka: Karnataka paints a promising picture with an average of 8.4 percent among 76,450 schools. Private unaided schools outshine others with a 22 percent implementation rate.

Bihar: Bihar, with a total of 93,165 schools, portrays room for growth, with an overall 1.9 percent of schools equipped with the requisite technology. The digitization process in private unaided schools is more encouraging, with a 13 percent adaptation rate.

India/ State/ UT	Table 3: Percentage of Schools having PCs with Functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices, UDISEPlus 2021-22
	Total Number of Schools )	Government Schools	Government Aided Schools	Private Unaided Schools	Other Types of Schools
India	6.7	3.6	12.5	15	3.8
Andaman and Nicobar Islands	13.9	10.8	0	29.2	0
Andhra Pradesh	8.8	2.6	4	27.9	9.5
Arunachal Pradesh	6.5	4	10.3	20.3	10.6
Assam	1.7	1.2	0.3	7.5	0.1
Bihar	1.9	0.2	1.5	13	5.4
Chandigarh	39.9	34.2	42.9	52.6	29.6
Chhattisgarh	2.7	1.5	2.9	10.7	1.4
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	11.1	5.4	37.5	42.9	0
Delhi	35.4	28.6	22.3	43.8	0
Goa	10.3	2.2	19.6	20.1	0
Gujarat	22.7	14.6	34.2	38.5	0
Haryana	11.5	4.7	12.5	23.5	11.3
Himachal Pradesh	7.4	5.1	0	21.1	0
Jammu and Kashmir	4.7	2.7	0	12.8	3.8
Jharkhand	2.9	1.5	2.3	21.9	6.1
Karnataka	8.4	3	8.2	22	0
Kerala	13	8.3	7.6	32.1	15.3
Ladakh	6.7	5.3	0	18.8	0
Lakshadweep	26.3	26.3	0	0	0
Madhya Pradesh	2.9	0.5	3.8	10	3.1
Maharashtra	14	5.8	23.2	30	18.3
Manipur	4.5	1	0.3	16.9	4.4
Meghalaya	1.9	0.8	3	3.4	3.6
Mizoram	2.2	1.8	6.1	2.2	2.4
Nagaland	6	2.5	0	15.3	0
Odisha	3.4	1.6	2.6	15.9	12.4
Puducherry	22.8	14.9	30.3	33.8	0
Punjab	21.1	19.1	8.4	26.7	7.1
Rajasthan	6	3.1	0	11.9	1.5
Sikkim	18.7	18.3	10.5	20	0
Tamil Nadu	16.4	11.8	9.5	34.7	24.4
Telangana	11.7	13.9	3.6	7.1	1.2
Tripura	2.8	1.7	7	16.3	1.9
Uttar Pradesh	2.2	0.4	2.4	5	0.6
Uttarakhand	5	2	3.5	15	1.6
West Bengal	4.1	3.5	12.5	8.8	3.5

Concluding Observations

The UDISEPlus data reveals differential trends of technological integration across states, with notable disparities. States like Karnataka remain promising potential models with their higher implementation rates. On the other hand, populous states like Uttar Pradesh demonstrate a noticeable gap, particularly in the government schools segment. Furthermore, the generally higher propensity for adopting digital learning tools among private, unaided schools indicates an imbalance with government schools. The data urges a vast-scale and balanced digitization initiative across all states and school types to ensure a holistic diffusion of digital education tools. This comprehensive action is crucial in addressing the gaps and variability, guaranteeing quality education to all, and thus, aligned with the objectives of Digital India. The comparison among states raises essential questions about implementing digital learning tools in government-run schools and invites a need for a balanced development across all educational institutions.

The higher prevalence in private unaided schools indicates a trend of privatization being possibly more open to technological adaptations than their government counterparts. However, the higher-than-average percentage in some government schools and other schools in different states infuses optimism for a balanced proliferation in the future. Nonetheless, as the national average rate suggests, a significant portion of schools still need to be equipped with functional Integrated Teaching Learning Devices to embrace the paradigm shift towards digitization of education fully.

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