SchoolWiki is an innovative digital encyclopedia designed to collect and share information about schools in Kerala. Launched in 2009 by IT@School, this platform encourages collaborative learning by involving students, teachers, alumni, and the public. With over 1,72,453 articles, 69,165 users, and more than 26,52,509 modifications made, SchoolWiki stands as a powerful knowledge-sharing initiative.
What is SchoolWiki?
SchoolWiki serves as a comprehensive information hub for over 15,000 schools across Kerala. It provides a wide range of details, including basic school data, historical backgrounds, infrastructure facilities, notable alumni, school websites, maps, blogs, class magazines, and multimedia content. Developed entirely in Malayalam, the platform is enriched with educational material created by students, teachers, and other contributors. The repository is constantly expanding, making it a dynamic and evolving source of knowledge.
Key Features of SchoolWiki
Built using the Wikimedia Foundation’s MediaWiki software (version 1.41.1), SchoolWiki offers a variety of features to enhance user experience. Some of its key functionalities include:
- Collaborative Learning Environment: Users can contribute and modify content to create a rich educational database.
- Extensive School Data: The platform covers geographical details and essential information about every school in Kerala.
- Advanced Search Features: Users can search articles alphabetically and in both Malayalam and English languages.
- Multimedia Integration: The portal allows pictures to be displayed via Wikicomments.
- School Mapping: Open Street Map is used to create precise school locations.
- Special Admin Privileges: District Admins have exclusive permissions to oversee and manage content.
- Useful Extensions: SchoolWiki includes additional tools such as PrettyURL, Upload Wizard, Editcounts, Checkuser, Gadgets, and Thanks, which improve usability and user interaction.
Impact and Benefits of SchoolWiki
Before the launch of SchoolWiki, there was no unified digital repository that provided detailed information about all the schools in Kerala. Although some institutions maintained independent websites or Wikipedia pages, these lacked uniformity and accessibility. SchoolWiki addressed this gap by offering a well-structured, centralized database.
The platform has been widely accepted by students and teachers, as reflected in the ever-growing number of articles and edits. With 1,72,453 articles and 9,89,792 pages as of February 18, 2025, the platform continues to thrive. It has 69,165 registered users, including 31 administrators who monitor and maintain content quality. A dedicated help desk, led by a state coordinator, ensures that users receive guidance and support. Regular training sessions are conducted for new contributors, while a team of Master Trainers from KITE supervises editing activities.
Sustainability and Future Growth
The long-term sustainability of SchoolWiki relies on its ability to function as a comprehensive knowledge repository and educational resource portal. To maintain and expand the platform, the following measures are essential:
- Regular Training: Conducting training programs for students and teachers to improve content contribution.
- Efficient Monitoring: Establishing structured supervision at school, district, and state levels.
- Technological Upgrades: Investing in high-capacity servers and ICT infrastructure to support the growing database.
- Adequate Funding: Securing financial support for technology enhancements, training programs, and equipment procurement.
By continuously evolving, SchoolWiki can serve as a model for other states and regions looking to implement similar knowledge-sharing platforms.
Role of KITE in SchoolWiki
Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) is a government initiative responsible for modernizing educational institutions in Kerala. Formerly known as IT@School, KITE has played a crucial role in the development and maintenance of SchoolWiki. It focuses on various aspects, including:
- Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Implementation
- Content Development for Digital Learning
- Capacity Building for Educators
- Satellite-Based Education and e-Learning
- Infrastructure Development in Schools
KITE also manages Victors, India’s first educational TV channel, which introduces technology-based learning to over 3 million students in Kerala.
Moving Forward
SchoolWiki has revolutionized the way educational information is stored and shared in Kerala. By fostering a culture of collaborative learning, it empowers students and teachers to contribute valuable content while improving digital literacy. With continuous technological upgrades, training, and proper monitoring, SchoolWiki has the potential to serve as a nationwide model for educational knowledge management. As it continues to expand, this platform will remain a vital tool for educational development in Kerala.