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 frequently get inundated during the monsoons. Not all schools here are connected to grid electricity, and even for those that are, the power supply can be unreliable. Solar energy is now increasingly bridging the gap. According to 2023-2024 data from India’s Ministry of Education, Assam has 45,008 government schools, of which 3,048 are powered by solar panels. Teachers report benefits other than just better access to digital learning in solar-powered schools. Jaher Ali, a teacher at Lakhipur Middle School, said reliable electricity from solar panels at the school also ensures basic facilities for the students, including fans and filtered water systems. Previously, the children had to study in extreme heat and humidity. Nur Jaman Seikh, a teacher in a village in Darrang district, said her school got solar panels about three years ago. “Prior to that, children…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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