Digital divide and access to online education: new evidence from Tamil Nadu, India

The pandemic and the long closure of educational institutions have changed the learning and teaching practices across the globe. A massive and unplanned shift towards online education with unequal access to digital infrastructure deepens the existing digital divide and socio-economic inequalities. Tamil Nadu Covid Pulse Survey shows the state's commitment to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and continuing its welfare tradition including its efforts to provide uninterrupted education during the crisis. Based on the three recent rounds of the panel survey conducted in October 2020 and August 2021, this article discusses Tamil Nadu's experience in continuing education during the pandemic. The result highlights the existing digital divide and challenges faced by students in accessing online education. Some of the government initiatives like Kalvi TV telecasting classes for school students have been effective in addressing the digital divide between rural and urban areas in the state and making its education system more inclusive.