New Delhi: In the age of Covid-19, schools and colleges in India have adapted to the challenge of online education with all ease. Following the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March, there were initial glitches in implementing online classes but schools and colleges rose to the occasion quite fruitfully.
In India, there are one crore and nine lakh teachers. In a very short span of time, they not only adopted the online education model but also took it to the benefit of crores of students across the country.
At a time when the students were burdened with the syllabus, the Government along with the NCERT made relevant changes in the syllabus of higher classes. The Human Resource Development Ministry is continuously in touch with the Health Ministry and the Home Affairs Ministry.
The Union Minister for Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' said that the Government along with the NCERT have evolved such a syllabus, which has lessened their burden and they have got an opportunity to carry on with their studies in a more organised manner.
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Talking about the current state of education during an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat Regional Editor Braj Mohan, Dr Nishank said that the way Indian has adapted itself to a pandemic like coronavirus is exemplary in itself.
When ETV Bharat asked Dr Nishank if there will be any deviation from our traditional way of teaching due to online education, the Union HRD Minister said: “It was indeed a tough time when we moved one by adopting online education. Neither we nor you all knew about this. Had we not accepted the challenge, then we would not have been able to progress.”
Even today we are faced with a serious challenge where we have to ensure that the light of education does reach the students sitting in the last row.
Dr Nishank told ETV Bharat that during these tough days, people’s economic condition has worsened. In this regard, we have spoken to the Finance Commission and the NITI Aayog so that necessary facilities are made available to the needy. Our target is to reach those who don’t have smartphones through DTH means. The Centre’s goal is ‘One Class, One Channel’ under which one channel is being made available for every class.
The government is aware of the fact that there is a need to take online education to far-flung rural areas as well. The government is taking the help of both the government and the private schools to bridge the digital gap.
In order to make online education more effective, the government has entrusted over 100 universities to work on the online education curriculum to ensure that students are provided with quality education.
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When told about the problems being faced by the students of science stream, Dr Nishank said that the government is using artificial intelligence to enhance the quality of education in schools and colleges.
In the field of education, India has been a superpower. If we talk about this year, over 50,000 foreign students have got themselves registered for their higher education in India.
Dr Nishank said that India has entered into a deal with Google to reduce the digital gap. Indians underestimate their own universities. They need to understand that IIT alumnus Sundar Pachai is the head of Google today. We must respect our own institutes. Only then we will be in a position to challenge the world.
