ABSTRACT
Nowadays, smartphones are not just devices used for calling, gaming, and internet surfing but also learning devices. They are the most popular devices for online learning compared to iPads, laptops, tablets, etc. Several communication platforms made their services available to the world either partially or entirely to promote online education. This study intends to find out how the smartphone has played its role in catering online education toward tribal students (Class-IX, X, XI, and XII) in the selected district of Jharkhand State of India. This study also sheds light upon different issues teachers and students face while teaching and learning through smartphones. At the same time, few studies have revealed that primary education has been hit hard during the lockdown, and almost every primary school has failed to offer education. Considering the allegation, the researchers thought to investigate the education scenario of secondary and higher secondary standards during the lockdown. Districts like Pakur, Ranchi, Dumka, and Dhanbad have considered this research. Data has been received from 175 students of secondary and higher secondary standards and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data reveal that most students do not have personal smartphones, but they have engaged in the classes by borrowing a smartphone from parents, brothers, uncles, or relatives. Students face the various adverse problems of online studies, such as power interruption, insufficient data, technical glitches, poor internet connectivity, expensive tariffs, and secondary and higher secondary standards. Students of Jharkhand have attended online classes. However, most of the students prefer offline classes to online classes.
