Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has expressed concern over the low utilisation of free Wi-Fi services available in higher educational institutions and has directed colleges and universities to identify the reasons behind poor usage and take immediate corrective measures to improve student access.
The Higher Education Department observed that despite the availability of free internet facilities on campuses, daily data usage by students remains significantly below expected levels in several institutions. Officials believe the underutilization is preventing students from fully benefiting from digital learning opportunities and reducing the impact of the government’s investment in educational technology infrastructure.
Free Wi-Fi Available in 130 Higher Education Institutions
The free Wi-Fi initiative was introduced across 130 higher educational institution campuses in Odisha with the objective of bridging the digital divide and providing students seamless access to online academic resources.
The facility was designed to support:
- E-learning platforms
- Online classes
- Digital libraries
- Research databases
- E-books and journals
- Educational videos and study materials
However, recent utilisation reports revealed that a large number of students are either unaware of the service or are not actively using it for academic purposes.
Government Orders Awareness and Orientation Drives
To address the issue, the Higher Education Department has instructed college authorities to launch awareness campaigns and orientation programmes for students.
According to directives issued by the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), institutions have been asked to:
- Conduct orientation sessions for freshers and existing students
- Organise awareness drives about free Wi-Fi facilities
- Display Wi-Fi login details and registration procedures prominently
- Install information boards in libraries, laboratories, hostels and common areas
- Educate students about the academic benefits of digital resources
Officials believe increased awareness will encourage more students to utilise the facility effectively.
Focus on Digital Learning and Online Resources
The DHE has also urged faculty members to integrate digital learning into regular classroom activities.
Teachers have been advised to encourage students to access:
- Online journals
- E-books
- Open Educational Resources (OER)
- Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
- Research publications and digital databases
The department believes that linking classroom learning with online resources will improve academic engagement while increasing the usage of available internet facilities.
Colleges Asked to Improve Network Coverage
Apart from awareness-related measures, institutions have also been directed to assess the quality and reach of their Wi-Fi networks.
The department has instructed colleges to ensure adequate signal strength in student-focused areas such as:
- Libraries
- Reading rooms
- Study halls
- Computer laboratories
- Common rooms
- Campus gathering spaces
Any connectivity issues, dead zones or technical glitches must be immediately reported to service providers and the Higher Education Department for prompt resolution.
Strengthening Digital Education in Odisha
The Odisha government considers digital connectivity a crucial component of modern higher education. By providing free Wi-Fi access, the state aims to create an environment where students can easily access knowledge, research materials and skill-development resources without financial barriers.
Officials hope that increased awareness, better network coverage and greater integration of digital learning into academic activities will significantly improve utilisation rates and help students make the most of the facility.
As colleges implement the new directives, the Higher Education Department is expected to closely monitor usage patterns and evaluate the effectiveness of the measures in enhancing digital access across campuses.
