Bhubaneswar: English Athlete James Carragher had once said, “You can shape statistics to make them look however you want them to.”

The statistics of Odisha govt schools having computer facility, as released by the UDISE+ report vindicates the sayings of James Carragher.

As per the report, in the yardstick of schools with computer facility, the statistics look very healthy. 

Odisha has a total of 61,693 schools , of which,

• Govt schools – 48,671
• Govt aided schools – 5,907
• Private unaided – 6042
• Others - 1073

The UDISE+ 2023-24 report shows out the total schools, following number of schools have computer facility.

• Govt – 27,140
• Govt –Aided – 3851
• Private – 4910
• Others – 727

As per the data, 55.8% of the govt schools in Odisha have computer facility, 

the proportion stands higher at 65.2% for govt unaided, 

81.3% for private and 

67.8% for other types of schools, respectively.

STATISTICAL SHOW PART 1

In the index of Schools with functional computer facility for pedagogical purpose (means computers used for learning needs), the ratio also seems quite healthy.

• Govt schools – 52.1%
• Govt aided – 62.6%
• Private – 77.2%
• Others – 63.1%  

PART 2

Moreover, in the key factor of schools having internet connection, Odisha numbers are good. The UDISE+ has the following numbers.

• Govt schools – 81.4%
• Govt aided – 83%
• Private – 86.2%
• Others – 81.7%

A glance at the above mentioned statistics, however, shows how far the govt schools are lagging behind their counterparts in aided and private sectors when it comes to digital school age. 

Still, at the outset the numbers look somewhat healthy. But the devil lies in the details. 

DEVIL IN DETAILS

The actual state of digital school and smart classroom scenario in Odisha stands out starkly in contrast to the healthy STATISTICS at the outset.

• Only 16.7% govt schools have functional desktops or personal computers.
• On contrary, the number in private sector stands at 67.7%
• And it is 49.1% for govt aided schools.

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING FUNCTIONAL LAPTOP/NOTEBOOK

• Govt – 2.3%
• Govt aided – 9.6%
• Private – 33.6%
• Others – 28.8%

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING FUNCTIONAL TABLETS

• Govt – 34.1%
• Govt unaided – 4%
• Pvt – 9.8%
• Others – 8.9%

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING PCs WITH FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATED TEACHING LEARNING DEVICES

• Govt – 3.9%
• Aided – 11%
• Pvt – 20.1%
• Others – 0%

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING FUNCTIONAL PROJECTOR

• Govt schools – 7.6%
• Aided – 15.7%
• Private – 29.7%
• Others – 19.8%

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING SMART CLASSROOMS

 In this all important parameter, despite Smart Classroom School initiative, the State govt schools exhibited a poor show.

• Govt – 25.7% schools have smart classrooms
• Aided – 38.5%
• Private – 32.6%
• Others 24.4%

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING MOBILES FOR TEACHING PURPOSE

• Govt – 29.2%
• Aided – 27.7%
• Private – 37.8%
• Others – 0%

% OF SCHOOLS HAVING DIGITAL LIBRARY

• Govt – 12.2%
• Aided – 33.4%
• Private – 11.3%
• Others – 10.5%

SCHOOLS HAVING ICT LABS IN ODISHA

This scheme of ICT lab was started in 2004. In 2019, the Ministry of Education made provision and introduced a new form of technology for the classrooms.

Under this, tablets, laptops, notebooks, and a charging rack, are a significant part of the revised ICT Lab Scheme. The teachers and students now have more easy-to-use solutions that naturally align with their psychology of using smartphone.

How Odisha fares in this vital index.

• % of government middle and secondary schools having functional ICT labs – 22.7%
• % of government aided middle and secondary schools having functional ICT labs – 26.3%

ATAL TINKERING LABS IN ODISHA SCHOOLS

The Atal Tinkering lab in schools was started in year 2021. This lab provides the space for the students to experiment, learn and conceptualise various scientific ideas.

As per the UDISE+ report, functional tinkering labs in Odisha schools are given below.

• In Kendriya Vidyalayas in Odisha – 32.3%
• Navodaya Vidyalayas – 19.4%
• Other Central govt schools – 50%
• ODISHA GOVT SCHOOLS – 20.9%
• Aided schools – 14.9%
• Private – 29%
• Others – 19.2%

The above data on digital school, smart classroom and infra for excelling in science clearly marked out the laggard. 

Odisha govt schools perform very poor in the concept of new age school vis-a-vis its counterparts.

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