With an aim to bridging the digital divide and empowering girl students, the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, has announced the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Labs and Smart Classrooms in all functional Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) and hostels. This initiative, aligned with the Samagra Shiksha norms, aims to benefit approximately 7 lakh girls across the nation at an estimated cost of Rs. 290 crore.
KGBVs, which are residential schools for girls from Classes VI to XII, primarily serve students from disadvantaged groups including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Minority communities, and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. These schools are strategically located in Educationally Backward Blocks to ensure access to quality education and to reduce gender disparities at all levels of school education. Currently, there are 5116 functional KGBVs across 30 States and Union Territories in India.
The introduction of ICT labs and Smart Classrooms is a critical step for the students of KGBVs, who often face numerous obstacles in accessing education, such as distance, cultural norms, and safety concerns. Access to digital literacy is essential for their personal and professional development. By integrating modern-day technology into their education, this initiative will not only empower these girls but also play a pivotal role in reducing the existing digital divide.
In today’s era of rapid technological advancement, it is imperative that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to become digitally literate. The integration of ICT into the school curriculum ensures that students, especially those from disadvantaged groups, receive adequate experiential exposure to modern technology.
The provision of ICT facilities will enable KGBV students to better access digital platforms and resources provided by the Department of School Education and Literacy, such as SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, National Digital Library, e-Pathshala, National Repository of Open Educational Resources, and DIKSHA. This access is expected to significantly enhance their learning outcomes.
This initiative represents a major step forward in the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusive education and digital literacy, ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital age.
