Opinion: Disconnected Telangana govt schools in AI age
For a State which aspires to lead India’s AI revolution, it is disappointing that just 21.9% of government schools have net connectivity
By Vijay Korra, Santhosh Gugulothu
While addressing the Legislative Council on 27 March 2025, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy expressed deep concern about the education sector in the State and stressed the pressing need for comprehensive reforms. The government spends Rs 55,000-60,000 on each student a year and more than Rs 1 lakh for residence students, which is higher than the nation’s average, he said. However, despite spending an extravagant amount, the outcome remains a major concern as the schools have inadequate infrastructure facilities.
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ASER Report
The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), 2024, published by the Pratham Foundation, highlights a serious decline in foundational literacy among schoolchildren over the past decade. In 2014, 12.2% of third-grade students could read a second-grade level text, but this number dropped to just 6.8% in 2024. Similarly, the percentage of fifth-grade students who can read at a second-grade level has fallen sharply from 53.7% in 2014 to just 29.3% in 2024. Among eighth graders, literacy levels have also steadily declined, with only 50.8% able to read a second-grade text in 2024, down from 73.9% in 2014. Comparable outcomes were also found vis-à-vis arithmetic.
This decay suggests a severe learning crisis in primary and middle school education in the State. Despite various educational policies and interventions, foundational reading and mathematical skills have not improved. Instead, it has led to a sharp deceleration. Students without mastering basic literacy could have long-term consequences on their academic performance and future employability.
Regarding the digitalisation of school education, the ASER report pointed out at the persistent lack of access to computers for children in educational settings in Telangana. In 2010, 90.7% of schools had no computers available for student use, and while there was a slight improvement in 2018 (89.5%) and 2022 (85.9%), the number alarmingly rose again in 2024 to 91.1%. This shows that despite technological advancements, access to computers in schools has not significantly improved.
Also, in 2024, only 3.9% of schools reported students actively using computers on the day of the visit, showing only a marginal rise from 3.3% in 2022 and 3.1% in 2018. The proportion of schools where computers were available but unused fluctuated, peaking at 11.7% in 2022 before dropping to 5.1% in 2024.
Education in AI era
Education remains the foundation for preparing the next generation for future challenges. India is a nation with ambitious goals under the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, and Digital India initiatives for the state-run government schools are a critical indicator of readiness.
Telangana government must focus on comprehensive digital infrastructure, including reliable internet, functional science labs, computers and digital libraries to empower students with the knowledge and skills needed in AI age
The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+ 2023-24) report, released by the Ministry of Education, provides comprehensive details of infrastructure in India’s 14.7 lakh schools, including a detailed look at Telangana. The enrolment in government schools is significant, with around 127.49 million students across India and 2.78 million students in Telangana who are mostly from low economic classes and marginalised communities like Tribes, Dalits and other backward classes. Here, the question is clear: do these schools have the infrastructure to nurture the digital literacy that students need in a tech-driven future?
Digital Infrastructure
According to the report, in the government schools in Telangana, nearly 4 out of 5 students, or 78.1%, do not have access to the internet. It is not just a statistical number but a wall between the children of marginalised communities and a future ruled by technology. On the other side, private school students, particularly in urban areas, have better access to the internet and digital equipment, which helps them become aware of different aspects of digital learning at the school level itself.
Telangana promotes itself as an AI hub, with extravagant summits and IT giants. But for marginalised communities, who are dependent on free government schools, the reality is obscure. The UDISE+ data shows inadequate digital facilities, leaving kids unprepared for jobs in India’s AI market, which is estimated to be $17 billion by 2027.
Electricity is a fundamental requirement for the operation of digital equipment in schools, such as PCs, projectors and digital classrooms. Though 89.1% of government schools have functional electricity facilities, and they are closer to the nation with 89.7%, just 21.9% of the schools have internet access, as against India’s 46.2%.
On the other hand, it is 84.8% and 74.3% for private and private-aided schools, respectively. This gap is stark for a State that aspires to lead India’s AI revolution, as evidenced by initiatives like the Global AI Summit 2024 and partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft and NVIDIA.
The availability of computers in Telangana is 74%, higher than the nation’s 50%; similarly, 41% of schools have tablets, again more than the nation’s average of 22.2%. Nevertheless, the lack of internet access makes it of no use to have these digital tools. The gap challenges particularly the marginalised sections.
Digital Divide & Employability
Without adequate internet connectivity and supporting infrastructure, these students continue to endure educational disadvantages, widening the existing gap between them and their more privileged peers. Experts say tech jobs such as data analysts and coders will rule the employment market in the future. Kids studying in private schools, by and large, come from better economic backgrounds, families and communities, and master these skills at an early age and grab the opportunities.
But for Telangana’s 2.78 million government students, 1.05 million in primary, 5,43,181 in secondary and 3,04,174 in higher secondary, the path is blocked.
Way Forward
Private schools, largely unaffordable for marginalised families, provide better digital access, while government schools, which enrol millions, struggle with inadequate infrastructure. For students from backward communities who depend on free education, this digital divide reinforces systemic inequality, limiting their prospects in a tech-driven world, which might perpetuate the cycle of poverty.
In contrast, States like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala and Karnataka have over 80% internet connectivity in government schools. To bridge this gap, the Telangana government must prioritise comprehensive digital infrastructure, including reliable internet, functional science labs, computers and digital libraries. Investing in these facilities would ensure equitable access to digital learning, empowering students with the knowledge and skills needed for future employment market and AI-driven challenges.
(Vijay Korra is Assistant Professor and Santhosh Gugulothu is Senior Research Fellow, at Centre for Economic and Social Studies [CESS], Hyderabad)
