The Usefulness of Functional Mobile Phones for Teaching Purposes and Improving Accessibility in Schools and Households

 

Introduction

Mobile phones have become integral part of our day-to-day life, transforming how we communicate and access information. Functional mobile phones have emerged as essential and potent tools for teaching and learning in the education sector, particularly highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to analyze the availability and usage of functional mobile phones in schools across India, shedding light on how the government can enhance accessibility and harness the benefits of mobile phones for educational purposes.

Number of Schools Having Functional Mobile Phones Used for Teaching Purposes: UDISEPlus 2021-22

India/ State/ UT

Number of Schools Having Functional Mobile Phones Used for Teaching Purposes by Management

Percentage of Schools Having Functional Mobile Phones Used for Teaching Purposes by Management
All Management Schools Government Schools Government Aided Private Unaided Other Managements All Management Schools Government Schools Government Aided Private Unaided Other Managements
All India 264053 169938 16044 72263 5808 17.7 16.6 19.5 21.5 12
Andaman and Nicobar Islands 40 17 0 23 0 9.6 5 0 31.9 0
Andhra Pradesh 11965 7297 251 4393 24 19.3 16.2 16.3 29.2 11.4
Arunachal Pradesh 150 24 14 106 6 4.2 0.8 20.6 21.1 12.8
Assam 3799 3099 81 571 48 6.2 6.8 2.1 9.8 0.9
Bihar 3255 568 21 1644 1022 3.5 0.8 2.8 20.3 11.7
Chandigarh 42 12 1 22 7 18 9.8 14.3 29 25.9
Chhattisgarh 3233 1667 31 1523 12 5.7 3.4 7.4 21.6 4.2
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and

Daman and Diu

 86 65 1 20 0 18.7 16.8 12.5 31.8 0
Delhi 1915 617 80 1218 0 34.1 22.3 32.4 46.7 0
Goa 525 364 121 40 0 34.8 44.7 21.7 28.8 0
Gujarat 17509 12152 1338 4019 0 32.5 35 23.9 29.6 0
Haryana 4208 951 2 2954 301 17.7 6.5 12.5 35.8 33.9
Himachal Pradesh 1537 1090 0 447 0 8.5 7.1 0 16.9 0
Jammu and Kashmir 2084 824 0 1242 18 7.2 3.6 0 22.5 17.1
Jharkhand 3112 1623 70 360 1059 6.9 4.5 6 23.1 16.9
Karnataka 8614 3974 1162 3476 2 11.3 8 16.3 17.7 18.2
Kerala 3856 910 1900 816 230 23.7 18.2 26.5 25.8 26.1
Ladakh 21 12 0 9 0 2.2 1.4 0 8 0
Lakshadweep 4 4 0 0 0 10.5 10.5 0 0 0
Madhya Pradesh 15526 6740 100 8543 143 12.4 7.3 13.5 28.2 7.9
Maharashtra 36493 20408 9503 6419 163 33.3 31.1 39.5 33.3 24.7
Manipur 309 90 32 177 10 6.7 3.1 5.5 17.5 7.4
Meghalaya 258 97 82 65 14 1.8 1.3 2 3.1 2.7
Mizoram 9 4 0 5 0 0.2 0.2 0 0.5 0
Nagaland 233 97 0 135 1 8.6 5 0 17.8 100
Odisha 4315 2166 326 1509 314 6.9 4.4 5.6 24.7 24
Puducherry 183 83 8 92 0 24.9 19.7 24.2 32.7 0
Punjab 7749 5125 66 2555 3 28 26.6 14.7 32 21.4
Rajasthan 10209 3214 0 6911 84 9.6 4.7 0 19.8 3.2
Sikkim 148 69 0 79 0 11.8 8 0 21 0
Tamil Nadu 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Telangana 3188 2268 48 870 2 7.4 7.6 6.9 7.1 1.2
Tripura 342 258 7 63 14 6.9 6.1 16.3 17.4 5.4
Uttar Pradesh 22123 9671 648 11113 691 8.6 7.1 8 11.4 4.6
Uttarakhand 2389 1156 64 1130 39 10.5 7 10.5 21.6 7.8
West Bengal 94624 83222 87 9714 1601 99.9 99.9 98.9 99.6 99.8

Source: UDISE+ 2021-22

According to the UDISEPlus 2021-22 data, there are a total of 264,053 schools in India utilizing functional mobile phones for teaching purposes. These schools are categorized based on their management type, including government, government-aided, private unaided, and other management. The analysis of usage percentages reveals the following insights:

  • Government schools have a functional mobile phone usage rate of 16.6 percent.
  • Government-aided schools account for 19.5 percent of functional mobile phone usage.
  • Private unaided schools show a higher adoption rate, with 21.5 percent usage.
  • Schools under other management have a usage rate of 12 percent.

While some states, such as Punjab and Puducherry, have significantly adopted functional mobile phones in schools, the usage rate in many states and union territories remains relatively low. This indicates a pressing need for improved access and implementation. Private unaided schools tend to exhibit a higher adoption rate than government-aided and government schools, underscoring the disparities in technology integration.

Concluding Observations

Based on the data analysis, it is evident that functional mobile phones can potentially enhance teaching and learning in schools. However, a significant disparity exists in their availability and usage across different states and types of schools. To improve mobile phone accessibility in schools and households, the government should consider the following measures:

  1. Providing Financial Support: Allocate funds specifically to procure functional mobile phones for educational purposes. Offer subsidies or grants to schools to purchase mobile phones and related infrastructure.
  2. Infrastructure Development: Establish a robust network infrastructure to ensure seamless connectivity in remote areas, bridging the digital divide. Provide comprehensive training to teachers and students on the effective use of mobile phones for educational purposes.
  3. Collaboration with Mobile Manufacturers: Partner with mobile phone manufacturers to develop cost-effective models tailored for educational use. Encourage manufacturers to extend special discounts or offers to schools and educational institutions.

By harnessing the potential of functional mobile phones in education, India can significantly contribute to the digital transformation of its schools. Improving the availability and utilization of the devices may provide students with access to high-quality educational resources, fostering interactive and engaging learning experiences.

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