Unicef study commends Kerala’s digital edu model

Thiruvananthapuram: A Unicef India study released here on Saturday has showered praise on Kerala’s digital education initiatives (EdTech), calling it a model for middle-income and developed countries.
The report, titled ‘Empowering Adolescents with Future-Ready Skills - The Inspiring Story of Little KITEs’, focused on Little KITEs programme — the largest ICT network of students in India implemented by the Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) across 2,174 high schools in the state.Aligned with global and national efforts to develop future-ready skills alongside the United Nation’s global framework, the study offers 10 data-driven recommendations.
Kerala’s KITE-led EdTech model, without relying on profit-driven vendors, is both scalable and adaptable, making it valuable for other regions. The study emphasizes that choosing free and open-source software (FOSS) over proprietary software has technological, economic, social and pedagogical benefits, as demonstrated by KITE’s success. The report notes that Kerala saved Rs 3,000 crore by using open-source software, and even Finland has expressed interest in replicating the Little KITEs model.
The report goes beyond commending Kerala’s infrastructure, including the deployment of 9,000 robotic kits and AI / IoT training for Little KITEs. “In closing, it is evident that Little KITEs is a well-sown seed in the fertile ground of EdTech in Kerala. It has grown rapidly and has promoted a wide range of students across the public school system to explore creativity and problem-solving, to connect school to life in innovative ways, and to architect safe digital futures,” the study said.
General education department principal secretary Rani George received the study report from Unicef India educational specialist Pramila Manoharan, in the presence of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and general education minister V Sivankutty.