Smart schools in Kerala face crisis as K-FON starts charging for internet services

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) has asked 30,897 government institutions, including schools, to start paying for internet services. Until now, these services were provided free of cost. The move has put nearly 6,000 smart schools in the state under financial pressure.

The state government's stand is that local self-government institutions should pay the K-FON internet bills for schools. However, local bodies say they are already facing financial difficulties and cannot take on the additional burden. They warn that the move could affect digital learning programmes in schools.

The General Education Department has forwarded K-FON's email to schools. The communication advises schools either to continue with K-FON by paying the bills or switch to another internet service provider.

K-FON has been providing internet connectivity to schools since 2023 without charging any fee. However, after a reduction in budget allocation this year, the company has been asked to generate its own revenue. As a result, K-FON has informed all government institutions that they must start paying for internet services or risk disconnection.

Internet connectivity was first introduced in government high schools and higher secondary schools in 2009. The facility was extended to primary schools in 2016. At that time, the government paid the internet bills to BSNL. After schools shifted to K-FON, the service was provided free of cost.

With schools now depending entirely on internet connectivity for both academic and administrative work, there is growing demand for the government to bear the cost of K-FON services.

Internet essential for teaching and administration

• Schools use K-FON internet for digital learning as well as administrative work. This includes online education, Samagra, Sampoorna, SPARK, e-Office, student admissions, examination-related work and uploading information to various government portals.
• Teachers also say they already spend a significant amount from their own pockets for teaching materials, office expenses, minor repairs and the implementation of government schemes. They say they cannot afford the additional burden of renewing K-FON connections and paying monthly internet bills.
• K-FON has said schools will be given sufficient time, considering the importance of uninterrupted digital education. However, school authorities say no official steps have been taken yet to address the issue.