NEW DELHI: After COVID-19 forced schools to transition from physical classrooms to online teaching, the focus has shifted to a critical challenge: equipping teachers with the skills to effectively integrate technology into education.
According to the UDISE report for 2023-24, only 26.77% of Indiaโs 9.8 million schoolteachers have been trained in computer-based teaching, highlighting a gap that demands urgent attention.
The foundational and preparatory levels, which form the base of a childโs education, have the lowest percentage of computer trained teachers.
Only 20.26% of the 2.35 million educators at this level have received training.
While middle school teachers stands, with 29.61% trained, and secondary-level teachers at 27.54%, the overall numbers fall short of what is needed to modernize Indiaโs education system.
The report further reveals systemic challenges in advance infrastructure. While over 90% of schools are equipped with basic amenities like electricity and gender-specific toilets, only 57.2% have functional computers, 53.9% have Internet access, and 52.3% are equipped with ramps.
Poonam Dua, Principal of NTPC Vidyut Nagar Dadri, stressed the importance of transforming teacher training to meet the needs of todayโs classrooms. โTeachers must receive training pertaining to technology in such a manner that they should act like facilitators to help stakeholders (students) shift from rote learning methods towards actual critical thinking methods,โ she said.
State government schools comparatively contribute the largest number of trained teachers, but private unaided institutions also play a significant role.
Despite this, the data reveals a troubling reality: nearly three-quarters of teachers across India are not yet prepared to integrate digital tools into their teaching practices.
The UDISE report serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the pressing need for a renewed focus on teacher training to build a future-ready education system.
