Nature of Digital Divide Prevailing in Rural Schools in Ranipet District - Hindering AI Adoption in Schools

Rimsa Fathima Moulvi, Dr. A. P. Muthulakshmi, Dr. Arjumand Banu Kunja Amanullah

Abstract: In reality ICT awareness among students and teachers in Tamil Nadu varies significantly. The prevailing digital gap related to the awareness and accessibility of ICT facilities directly impacts the adoption of advanced tools like AIED by the teachers serving in different categories of schools. This research work aims to examine teachers? perceptions towards the nature of digital infrastructure prevailing in the schools and the nature of digital divide prevailing among different categories of schools functioning in Ranipet district in Tamil Nadu. The research work adopted an exploratory and explanatory methodology in the conduct of the study. A structured quantitative survey was conducted among 230 schoolteachers out of 456 total teachers from diverse institutional settings, including Government and private schools functioning in urban, rural, and semi-urban areas in Ranipet district. Data assessed reveal that not all schools surveyed are fully digitalized. Schools functioning in Ranipet district are found to be partially digitalized, and it may cause issues while the schools plan to adopt advanced AI tools in their schools. Thus, these schools are suggested to equip themselves with the needed infrastructure facilities to become techno-savvy in all senses. As the school authorities should realize the fact that inadequate ICT infrastructure in schools, it will lead to AI tools being underutilized, limiting their benefits that teachers and students could realize in their learning environments.

Keywords: Information Communication Technology, Artificial Intelligence, ITC Infrastructure

How to Cite?: Rimsa Fathima Moulvi, Dr. A. P. Muthulakshmi, Dr. Arjumand Banu Kunja Amanullah, "Nature of Digital Divide Prevailing in Rural Schools in Ranipet District - Hindering AI Adoption in Schools", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1691-1694, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25722155811, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25722155811