No end to tribal students’ struggle with digital divide

Online classes with little access and poor awareness affect academic development of tribal youth

For over a month last year since securing admission for BA History at the Government College, Thripunithura, Vijeesh K., a 22-year-old from a tribal colony at Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad, was effectively shut out of online classes.

The Internet network was at best patchy, and he could hardly afford to recharge the mobile connection with his mother’s meagre daily wages. That he got admission through supplementary admission meant that he had already missed classes by the time he had joined.

“We could not submit our assignments in time or complete notes. Initially, the college authorities were also in the dark about our plight,” said Vijeesh.