Empowering India’s Future: Ensuring the Right to Digital Education for All

Right To Digital Education

Riya Sharma

9/7/20236 min read

Introduction

The right to education is recognized by the United Nations as an essential right for universal development and has been noted as a critical element in this process. In India, the 2009 Right to Education Act has been a significant step towards fulfilling our nation's commitment that education is an essential right for every child. Access to quality education has become increasingly dependent on access to technology in the Digital Age. In countries like India, the concept of the "Right to Digital Education" is gaining popularity in recognition of digital learning's transformative power. These rights include the fundamental principle that ensures equal access for all individuals, irrespective of their level of economic or geographical origin, to electronic tools and resources in order to learn. The importance of the right to digital education in India, the initiatives taken by the Government of India, its impacts on educational accessibility and quality, and challenges and opportunities for future developments are explored in this article.

THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE IN INDIA

Digital Education is a way of learning in which technology and digital tools play a vital role. Student learning from all over the country is encouraged by this large and ed tech education model. Through its various initiatives, the government proposes many channels to collect significant sources of Digital Education. In order to bridge the digital divide and enable students to develop digital literacy, every State or University has undertaken different measures in collaboration with each other.

India envisages and shapes digital education as a lifelong learning strategy in order to ensure "New Age Learning" while also helping India advance on its path by way of technological progress. It contributes to a new age of education, which does not apply only to schools. In order to adapt the enhanced learning experience for students, the Ministry of Education is currently working on the concept of learning by all, learning for all, and learning with all.

The Government of India is committed to ensuring learning for all, with equity, to cover all scholars at all levels of education and in all geographical locations, even in the distant parts of the country, so that the conveniences of accessing any service through the click of a button is no longer the luxury of the rich alone. The government of India has undertaken many initiatives, amongst which are as follows:

PM eVidya:

A comprehensive initiative called PM eVidya is launched as a part of the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Programme, which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable coherent multi-mode access to education.

Initiatives include DIKSHA, the nation's digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content for every school education in states/UTs, and QR-coded Energized Textbooks for all grades (one nation, one digital platform). One earmarked TV channel per class from 1 to 12 (One class, One channel). Exhaustive use of radio, Community Radio, and Central Board of Secondary Education Podcast Shiksha Vani. Special e-content for the students who are visually and hearing impaired (to help such students)developed on Digitally Accessible Information System on NIOS website/ YouTube.

DIKSHA:

DIKSHA is the 'One nation: One digital platform' for school education in India. The Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA) portal and mobile app created by MoE (Ministry of Education) is a storehouse of a large number of eBooks and e-contents (Available in 32 Languages) created by States/UTs and National level organizations. The e-Textbooks of NCERT/ states and related e-contents, mapped with QR Codes, are available on DIKSHA, which can be accessed at https://diksha.gov.in/ DIKSHA is being transformed into a platform for the coherence of access with TV and radio. DIKSHA is designed to inherently support states/UTs and other school boards to exercise autonomy, independence, and choice to craft and run learning programs to suit their requirements and achieve their goals.

Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (ref. as SWAYAM ):

SWAYAM is an online platform that provides free, high-quality educational courses from school to postgraduate levels. It offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in various subjects, allowing learners to access lectures, quizzes, and interactive content. SWAYAM aims to enhance access to quality education for students across the country.

E-PATHSHALA:

E-PATHSHALA is an initiative by the Ministry of Education that provides access to digital textbooks, e-books, audio, video, and interactive resources for students, teachers, and parents. It offers digital content for K-12 education in multiple languages and promotes self-paced learning through digital platforms.

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020:

The National Education Policy 2020 is a comprehensive policy framework that outlines the vision and roadmap for transforming the Indian education system. It focuses on promoting digital education, leveraging technology for personalized learning, and integrating digital tools and platforms into classrooms. The NEP emphasizes the importance of digital literacy and encourages the development of digital content and resources.

National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER):

The NROER is an online platform that offers a broad range of open educational resources, including textbooks, audio, video, and interactive materials. It enables teachers, scholars, and parents to access and use free and high-quality digital content for teaching and learning.

Benefits of Digital Education in India

Digital education in India brings numerous advantages that positively impact students, educators, and the overall education system. The key benefits of digital education in India are:

  1. Increased Access to Education: The digitization of education aims at breaking down geographic frontiers and increasing the accessibility to quality education, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Through online learning platforms and digital resources, students can overcome distance obstacles, which ensures that education reaches all parts of the country.

  2. Interactive and Engaging Content: Digital education utilizes multimedia tools, interactive videos, gamification, and simulations to make learning more engaging and enjoyable. Such interactive content stimulates student curiosity, promotes active participation, and enhances knowledge retention.

  3. Diverse Learning Resources and Online Platforms: Digital learning offers various resources and materials in different formats, including e-books, online libraries, education apps, etc. Open educational content can also be found on the internet. This diversity allows pupils to learn in-depth and gives them a broad range of information sources. In India, there is an increasing number of Internet learning platforms offering a broad range of courses and training resources. Platforms such as BYJU, Unacademy, Vedantu, and Khan Academy India are increasingly popular because of their ability to provide students with interactive video lessons, quizzes, or personalized learning experiences. These services offer flexibility and convenience to students throughout the country, taking into account different topics and levels of education.

  4. Technological Skills Development: Digital education is a means of equipping people with essential digital skills, which are increasingly required in the modern workforce. Online learning provides students with the knowledge of digital tools, how to use them, navigate digital platforms, collaborate digitally, and evaluate digital information in a critical way.

Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Education in India

In India, where more than 50 million Indians use the internet, only a tiny percentage of people are educated. As India seeks to use technology for the transformation of its school system, digital education in this country presents both challenges and opportunities. In India, the main challenges and opportunities for digital learning are listed below.

Challenges

  1. Digital Divide: The digital divide remains a significant challenge, with disparities in access to devices, internet connectivity, and digital literacy. Many rural and economically disadvantaged areas lack the necessary infrastructure and resources to fully participate in digital education.

  2. Limitations: Enhancing the effectiveness of Digital Education Initiatives, notably in those areas where there is a shortage of infrastructure and no reliable power supply or internet connection, is hindered by lack of adequate infrastructure.

  3. Digital Literacy and Teacher Training: To effectively engage in digital learning, it is essential to promote digital literacy among students, teachers, and parents. In order to make the use of technology effective in school practices and take full advantage of its possibilities, many teachers require training.

Opportunities

  1. Access and Inclusion: Digital learning can bridge the education gap and reach out to underserved populations, such as those in remote locations, differently abled pupils, or socially disadvantaged communities. India can promote equal opportunities to receive quality education through the expansion of access to ICT(Information and Communications Technology) and the provision of appropriate educational resources.

  2. Technological Innovation and EdTech Startups: The digital education landscape in India has given rise to numerous EdTech startups and innovations. These startups offer creative solutions, content platforms, and technological tools that enhance teaching practices, student engagement, and learning outcomes. India has the opportunity to foster a thriving ecosystem of educational technology innovation.

Conclusion

In India, digital learning has the potential to transform education and provide learners in every part of the country with an increased level of access, quality, and personalized learning experience. As the federal government supports teachers and EdTech startups in developing new ways of learning while addressing challenges such as a digital divide and infrastructure constraints, there can be no denying that this will set the stage for an education revolution. By embracing digital education and leveraging technology effectively, India can empower its learners, bridge educational gaps, and build a brighter future for the nation.

(Edited and Posted by Lawful Bytes Team)

RIYA SHARMA

TRCL Mumbai