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Over 23% schools in Maharashtra don’t have functional computers, says data

The UDISE+ data released in August also shows that across India, overall only 57.9 per cent of schools have functional computers, and state-wise variations are large.

3 min readUpdated: Oct 28, 2025 08:05 PM IST

In Kerala, almost all schools (15,618 out of 15,757) have functional computers. (representational image)

Over 23 per cent schools in Maharashtra do not have any functioning computers, according to Unified District Information System for Education plus (UDISE+) data for 2024-25. Out of the 1,08,250 schools in the state, 25,258 do not have functional computers on their premises. Further, of the total 1.8 lakh schools in the state, 30,166 do not have an internet connection. This figure includes all schools like government, government-aided and private schools.

The UDISE+ data released in August also shows that across India, overall only 57.9 per cent of schools have functional computers, and state-wise variations are large. In Kerala, almost all schools (15,618 out of 15,757) have functional computers. In Tamil Nadu, 53,080 out of 57,936, or 91.6 per cent schools have functional computers. Karnataka, however, fares worse than Maharashtra with only 50 per cent of the total schools having computers. Similarly in Uttar Pradesh, only 51 per cent schools have computer facilities.

In October, The Indian Express reported on the story of Aditi Parthe, a Class 7 student at Nigudghar Zila Parishad (ZP) School in Bhor Taluka, who was selected for the Pune ZP’s NASA tour programme after clearing three rounds of tests. Her school did not have any functioning computers, and she was taught how to operate one by headmaster Ashok Bandal using his personal computer.

IAS officer Sanjay Yadav, State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha at Maharashtra Prathmik Shikshan Parishad, told The Indian Express that many of the state’s schools that don’t have computers are smaller schools with few students. He said, “We don’t close schools even where the children are few in number. We have schools with one or two or 10 students, and these are younger kids. The schools without computers are possibly these schools.”

“Wherever there are more than 50 students, an attempt is made so that they get exposure to computers. It is the government’s responsibility to provide these facilities and we are trying, but we are now also trying to get CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds to these smaller schools,” he added.

Yadav said, “It is difficult to maintain 100 per cent computers in schools where even trained manpower might not be available. We have some schools with just one teacher. There are two options (to solve this): one that the students can go to the computer labs, or that mobile computer labs can be sent to the students for introduction. We are planning to have 100 per cent exposure to computers by the next academic year. It is not necessary for computers to be present in each school, I just thought of mobile labs while having this conversation.”

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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