Schoolchildren's Use of Smartphones

The report, titled “State of Elementary Education in Rural India,” was just published.
It focuses on the current digital landscape in rural regions for education.

It is a detailed survey of 6,229 parents of rural schoolchildren aged 6 to 16 from 21 Indian states.
It is made public by the Development Intelligence Unit (DIU).
It discovered an interesting trend: children in rural areas primarily use smartphones for fun rather than instructional purposes.

(1) Smartphone Use and Entertainment

The poll indicated that 49.3% of rural students have access to cellphones, which influences their digital participation.
Entertainment Dominance: A considerable 76.7% of parents whose children have access to gadgets reported that their children mostly use smartphones for playing video games, highlighting the popularity of entertainment-related activities.
Media Consumption: According to the report, 56.6% of students with access to gadgets use cellphones to download and watch films, while 47.3% download and listen to music.
In comparison, only 34% of students use smartphones for study downloads, and only 18% use online learning tools such as tutorials.

(2) Demographics and Education Levels:

Age and Smartphone Access: According to the poll, students in higher grades (Class VIII and above) have more access to cellphones (58.32%) than their peers in lower grades (Classes I-III), who had 42.1% access.
Education Aspirations: An positive number emerged, with 78% of parents hoping to educate their daughters to at least a bachelor’s degree level, and 82% aspiring to do the same for their sons.

(3) Parental Participation and Insights

Learning interactions: According to the poll, just 40% of parents have regular interactions with their children regarding school-related learning. Another 32% conduct such chats on a regular basis.
Dropout Insights: Among a subgroup of 56 respondents, the reasons for children dropping out of school were the necessity for girls to contribute to family income (36.8%), a lack of interest in studies (31.6%), and home obligations (21.1%). The biggest factor for boys was disinterest in academics (71.8%), followed by the necessity to contribute to family wages (48.7%).
Parent-Teacher Meetings: An impressive 84% of parents reported attending parent-teacher meetings on a regular basis. Short notice and a lack of willingness were also obstacles to participation.

Despite limited access, our findings highlight the importance of balanced digital engagement that encourages both educational and entertaining activities.
The survey’s findings on parental ambitions, learning conversations, and the issues of dropout rates present a comprehensive picture of the rural education landscape and highlight the significance of holistic educational approaches.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/more-students-using-smartphones-for-entertainment-than-study-survey/article67173226.ece