India: Kerala HC Asks State to Ensure Mitigation of Digital Divide Among School-kids

A number of primary school pupils had complained to the Court through their parents that they lacked access to digital devices that would allow them to continue their education, which is now conducted entirely online. As a result, Kerala High Court has asked the State and other concerned authorities to take efforts to guarantee that economically disadvantaged students are not left behind by the digital divide and are able to continue education in the same way that other children with access to such devices may. The petitioners claimed that thousands of students in similar situations, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, do not have access to smartphones, laptops, or even an internet connection, preventing them from fully participating in online classes. Recently, a student was reported to have fallen from a tree in an attempt to get range for his device to attend online classes.