Bhubaneswar: On average, only 28.87% of students studying in classes I to X in Odisha had access to smartphones for online classes.
This was revealed by School & Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash in the Odisha Assembly today through a written reply to a question from BJP legislator Kusum Tete.
As per information shared by the Minister, only 13.38% of students in Kandhamal district, the lowest among districts had access to smartphones followed by Rayagada with 14.34%, Deogarh 14.87%, Gajapati 15.34% and Boudh 18.61%.
The highest-45.80% of students in Khordha district had access to smartphones followed by Jharsuguda-43.18%, Kendrapara-42.27% and Bargarh-41.22%.
The Minister informed that the findings were based on a survey conducted in September 2020.
Dash further informed that keeping in view the danger of Covid-19 online classes through YouTube Live were organised and videos prepared on various subjects were aired on Doordarshan (Odia) from Monday to Friday for one hour.