When educators in India use the Google Education Platform, a suite of free digital tools designed for classrooms, including Google Classroom, Docs, Meet, and Drive. Also known as Google Workspace for Education, it lets teachers assign work, give feedback, and hold virtual classes without paying a cent. But while it’s free and easy to use, many schools are asking: Is it the right fit for Indian students? The answer isn’t simple.
The Google Classroom, a core part of the Google Education Platform that organizes assignments, grades, and communication became a lifeline during pandemic-era remote learning. Teachers in Delhi, Bangalore, and small towns alike used it to upload PDFs, record video lessons, and track who turned in homework. But over time, concerns grew. Privacy issues, data collection by Google, and the lack of offline access in areas with poor internet made some schools look elsewhere. In fact, schools switching from Google, a growing trend driven by data privacy laws and the desire for local control over student information, are now testing platforms like Microsoft Teams, Moodle, and even India-made tools like DIKSHA and Swayam.
It’s not just about privacy. The e-learning platform, any digital system that delivers teaching content online, whether it’s Google’s tools or something built for Indian classrooms needs to work for students who might share a single phone with siblings, have unstable Wi-Fi, or need content in Hindi or Tamil. Google’s tools assume high-speed internet and English fluency — conditions that don’t match every Indian household. That’s why some coaching centers and state boards are building their own simpler systems, or using WhatsApp as a primary communication tool instead of Google Meet.
So what does this mean for you? If you’re a teacher trying to pick a platform, or a parent wondering why your child’s school suddenly stopped using Google Classroom, you’re not alone. The real question isn’t whether Google is good — it’s whether it’s the best tool for your situation. Some schools thrive with it. Others found better options. The posts below show you exactly how this plays out in real classrooms across India — from the teachers who rely on Google every day, to the ones who walked away from it entirely. You’ll see what works, what doesn’t, and what alternatives are actually being used in 2025.
Google Education Platform is a free suite of tools including Google Classroom, Docs, and Meet that schools use to teach and learn online. It helps teachers assign work, track progress, and connect with students - no cost required.