From chalkboards to e-learning, solar boosts schooling in an Indian floodplain

On remote river islands in eastern India’s Assam state, solar power is helping children access education more reliably, reports Mongabay India’s Shailesh Shrivastava. Schools in Assam’s Brahmaputra River Valley recently introduced digital classroom infrastructure, bringing audio-visual learning to children. For some students, this shift from chalkboard-only teaching has been a game changer. “Until last year, a subject like science was a bit difficult to pursue, though we have a very nice teacher. The new audio-visual method helps us learn faster,” said Rajibul Hoque, a student at Lakhipur Middle School in Barpeta district. However, digital education requires an uninterrupted power supply, historically a challenge for schools in the Brahmaputra River’s islands and floodplains that frequentl