A Study on Access and Use of Diksha for School Teachers amid Covid-19 in Rajasthan

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected all sectors across the globe and has also led to unprecedented disruptions in the education sector worldwide, particularly affecting rural communities in India. With the closure of schools and educational institutions, online education emerged as the primary option to ensure continuity of education. This study focuses on assessing access and use of the online education platform DIKSHA amid the COVID-19 pandemic in rural areas, specifically examining the implementation and impact of digital education initiatives on teaching and learning. The study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection. The study covered 100 teachers and 100 students who were actively using the DIKSHA portal during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from 30 villages located in Jaipur and Udaipur districts of Rajasthan, India. The study findings indicate that a significant proportion of teachers and students are aware of the existence and usefulness of these platforms. However, the majority of participants encountered difficulties in effectively utilizing the online portals, with issues related to internet speed and interruptions being the predominant challenge. These challenges underscore the urgent need for improvements in digital infrastructure, connectivity, and comprehensive training programs to ensure that online educational platforms can effectively bridge the education gap and provide maximum benefits to students in rural regions.