Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{205121,
        author = {Dr. P. K. P. Mohapatra},
        title = {Bridging the Educational Divide: Distance Education as a Strategy for Universalizing Secondary Education in India},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {5491-5498},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205121},
        abstract = {Despite significant strides in universalizing elementary education, secondary education in India continues to face persistent bottlenecks regarding access, equity, and retention. Traditional brick-and-mortar schooling is frequently hindered by physical infrastructure deficits, socio-economic marginalization, and entrenched opportunity costs. This theoretical article investigates Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system as a vital, cost-effective strategy to bridge the educational divide and achieve the objectives of universal secondary education. By critically analyzing government frameworks such as the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and the National Education Policy (NEP), and commission and committees reports on open and distance education this study evaluates how digital platforms and flexible learning pathways can be leveraged to reach remote, rural, and disadvantaged populations. The paper explores both the potential and the challenges of distance education-including the digital divide and the need for high-quality self-learning materials. Ultimately, the article posits that integrating distance education into the formal schooling ecosystem is not merely an alternative, but an essential systemic mechanism to democratize secondary education and realize true educational inclusivity in India.},
        keywords = {Distance Education, Education Divide, Educational Equity. Universalization of Secondary Education, Open and Distance Learning.},
        month = {June},
        }