Government school teachers across India are spending significant time on digital data entry, diverting focus from direct classroom instruction. Educators in various states manage multiple government applications daily for tasks like student attendance, mid-day meal records, and infrastructure surveys.
Digital Tasks Burden Teachers
Teachers report increasing time spent on digital administrative tasks. Chaitanya Suresh N, a government school teacher in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, often stays an hour after school to update apps like UDISE Plus and SATS. “The entries are due the same day,” Suresh said, “if anything’s missing, we get messages.” He advocates for a single, integrated data app.
Shwetha Raj, an English teacher in Mandya, Karnataka, confirmed digital responsibilities now include data entry on SATS, state portals, and Diksha. Server issues frequently force repeated entries, consuming valuable preparation time. Meenakshi Tarun Raj, a science teacher in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, observed digital systems improve monitoring but make classroom life “more mechanical,” forcing teachers to multitask as data operators and subject experts.
Prachi Akash*, a Maharashtra teacher, stated this routine takes time away from students needing extra help. “The time we spend on this data work isn’t really helping anyone,” Akash commented, suggesting weekly audits by officials instead of daily digital filing. Many teachers also struggle with new technology. Sandhya A from Bhopal expressed fear of errors, recounting how an attendance error on the wrong date led to a week of explanations.
Student Learning Affected
The digital demands on teachers impact student learning. Rekha Kumari, a Class 9 student in Patna, Bihar, reported lessons pausing for teacher updates. “Sometimes it’s nice,” Kumari said, “but when it happens too often, it feels like school is just waiting time.” Faizan, a Class 10 student from Pune, described classes stopping for “half an hour,” finding it boring.
Some students assist teachers with data entry. Deepthi M, a Class 8 student from Kozhikode, Kerala, helps type names and check spellings. Ajit D Jogi, a Class 10 student in Chhattisgarh, helped a teacher with a fractured hand, spending hours on reports and receiving a scolding for an error he made.
Experts Call for Smarter System Design
Experts and educators identify flawed implementation as the root cause. Ravikaran Singh, a political science research scholar, noted multiple apps like Bihar’s Shiksha Saathi and e-Kalyan burden teachers. “Teachers spend a large part of their day uploading photos, fixing glitches, and updating multiple portals,” Singh explained. He warned these tools risk undermining classroom teaching without proper training, connectivity, and fewer redundant apps.
Anita Deshpande, a guest lecturer in Uttar Pradesh, described stopping lessons to meet immediate reporting deadlines, often using personal mobile data due to poor school Wi-Fi. “Teaching can’t happen through logins,” Deshpande asserted.
Rakhi Kaur, an educationist, acknowledged digital tools like DIKSHA aim for consistency and quality but face “uneven” ground reality. She noted diverse teacher tech skills, with policy deadlines often outpacing educator adaptation. An educational policy expert in Chennai called for an “automated data pipeline” to eliminate duplication across isolated apps like UDISEPlus and mid-day meal systems.
Poonam Bisht, an education technology analyst, stated reforms add metrics like Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) indicators, layering complexity. While acknowledging technology’s transparency benefits, Bisht warned, “when apps become the focus rather than the outcome, it erodes motivation. Teachers begin to see themselves as data operators rather than educators.”
Riya Singh*, a government high school teacher from Chandigarh, offered a contrasting view. She manages data uploads in 20-25 minutes daily before lunch, viewing it as a manageable part of accountability. Issues mainly arise from immediate demands or internet failures.
*Names changed to protect teacher identity.