Allahabad High Court seeks State response on plan to impart education to students facing unequal tech access amid COVID-19

The Allahabad High Court has sought the State's response on its efforts to resume imparting education, both offline and online, during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in view of the unequal access to online education when it comes to have-nots and students in rural areas. .The High Court observed that the Government is yet to intimate when schools in the Uttar Pradesh would be re-opened. .While this is the case, the Court noted that the great technological imbalance in society particularly, in the rural areas, has created a complete digital divide between the haves and have-nots.."... the concern of the Court is relating to the great technological imbalance in the society particularly, in the rural areas which has created a complete digital divide between haves and have-nots regarding the advanced cellular phones in every house to enable the students pursuing studies in these schools, to have proper education online in view of the pandemic Covid-19", the Court remarked..Further, Justice Ajit Kumar observed,"The Government has yet not come out in this application at least with the details of the action plan to imbibe education to such students till date during Covid-19 pandemic.".As such, the Court has decided to examine the matter, and has sought for a response from the State on the issue. ."In view of the seriousness involved in the matter which relates to the elementary education in the State, let the Director General of Education, U.P. and Secretary, Basic Education Board, U.P. appear before this Court and assist in making the Court understood the policies of the Government to resume education and class teaching both offline and online during pandemic Covid-19", reads the Court's order..The High Court was hearing an application to modify a judgment dated November 11, which had restrained the Government from making inter-district transfers of teachers in the middle of an academic session (Divya Goswami v. State of UP and ors)..The case prompted the Court to take note that the COVID-19 pandemic had a relatively low effect in rural areas. .As such, the Court opined that the Government had a golden opportunity to bridge the digital divide between schools students in rural areas and other students, by having teachers visit these villages to resume the students' education..The teachers could have been sent to persuade students to resume learning in between various unlock phases. The students could have been taught in clusters at the village itself, opined the High Court..The matter has been listed for further consideration on December 3..Additional Advocate General MC Chaturvedi assisted by Standing Counsel Amit Verma were present for the State whereas Advocate Navin Kumar Sharma represented the petitioner..Read the order here: