Digital Divide and Tribal Education: Assessing Technology Accessibility among Intermediate Students in Telangana
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Abstract
The fast pace of digitalization in education has transformed the way students access knowledge, interact with teachers, acquire learning resources and prepare for higher education and employment. But the benefits of digital education are not equally distributed across social and geographical groups. Access to digital devices, internet connectivity, affordability, digital proficiency, institutional infrastructure, and technological support may be challenges for tribal students, particularly those in remote and economically disadvantaged areas. The present study is an attempt to study the digital divide among tribal Intermediate students of Telangana from the perspective of Public Administration. It highlights the accessibility, affordability, quality and educational use of digital technologies and considers the role of educational institutions and government interventions in fostering digital inclusion. Such an inquiry is a major context for Telangana where the tribal education system comprises a large network of residential schools and junior colleges run through specific welfare institutions. The Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGTWREIS) has a total of 165 institutions that include 23 colleges and a sanctioned junior-college student strength of 6,380. It also talks about science and computer labs across its institutions. The study proposes a multidimensional framework that includes device access, internet connectivity, affordability, online literacy, institutional support, and the use of educational technology. It suggests that digital inclusion for tribal students should be framed as an issue of educational equity and public-service provision rather than simply an issue of technology ownership. The article ends with a suggestion for policy and administrative measures to strengthen digital accessibility, institutional capacity and meaningful use of technology among the tribal Intermediate students of Telangana.
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References
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