From Policy to Practice: EdTech and Educational Inequality in India

• In Event: Sociology of Education Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 16. AI for Teaching and Learning

Abstract

This abstract explores how digital technology has been integrated into India’s education system by asking two central questions: (1) What are the key barriers to equitable EdTech integration in India’s education system and how do these barriers vary across socio-economic and geographic contexts? and (2) How do government initiatives shape the accessibility and effectiveness of EdTech in addressing educational inequalities? Based on qualitative data from interviews with 19 EdTech professionals and government officials and drawing on theories of technological determinism and social stratification, the chapter traces how socio-economic disparities such as unequal access to devices, internet, and digital infrastructure act as mechanisms that perpetuate already existing inequalities. Institutional factors like limited teacher training and cultural resistance further restrict the potential of digital technology in education. It is not just technology itself, but the socio-economic structures and decision-making processes surrounding its adoption that sustain these disparities. Insights from EdTech professionals and government officials show that market-driven priorities and weak regulatory oversight exacerbate inequalities which limit access to students from low-income backgrounds by commercializing education. The findings underline how power dynamics, market-oriented policies, and organizational cultures shape the uneven rollout and effectiveness of digital education initiatives. By critically engaging with the intersection of technology, inequality, and education policy, this study puts forth a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms behind the digital divide and suggests how we can move towards a more equitable digital education ecosystem.

Author

• Upali Bhattacharya, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University