The importance of digital accessibility in education has grown more than ever before. With the advent of the National Education Policy 2020, the Indian government has shown a keen interest in expanding its digital infrastructure to provide quality online education to all, especially marginalized communities. This article delves into the various government initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide.
Government’s Digital Initiatives: PM e-Vidhya & Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan
In response to rising demands for online education, the government launched the PM e-VIDYA initiative as part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan in 2020. This comprehensive program aims to consolidate all digital education efforts, providing multi-mode access to education across the nation at no cost.
Key Components of PM eVidya
A crucial component of PM e-Vidya is the Strategic Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA). DIKSHA provides high-quality e-content for school education nationwide and QR-coded Energized Textbooks for all grades. Accompanying this is the DIKSHA Portal and Mobile App, a repository for a vast number of eBooks and e-contents created by the Ministry of Education.
PM e-VIDYA DTH TV Channels & CBSE Podcasts- Shiksha Vani
In the Union Budget announcement for Financial Year 2022-23, it was revealed that the initial 12 DTH Channels would be expanded to 200 PM e-VIDYA DTH TV Channels. These channels will provide supplementary education in various Indian languages for students from classes 1-12. Further enhancing the reach of education through digital means is the promotion of radio, community radio, and the CBSE podcast “Shiksha Vani”.
Digitally Accessible Tools & Virtual labs
Imperative to ensuring equal access to education is the creation of tools that cater to the needs of different communities. The Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) provides special e-content for visually and hearing-impaired students. Further, the plan to establish 750 virtual labs and 75 Skilling e-labs by 2023 will promote critical thinking skills and creativity.
Samagra Shiksha & Sathee Portal
The centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha includes an ICT and Digital initiatives component covering all Government and Aided schools from classes VI to XII. To assist students preparing for competitive exams across the country, a SATHEE portal has been developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.
In conclusion, the government’s efforts to bolster digital education are commendable, considering the widening digital divide. However, the effectiveness of these measures can only be determined over time as they are implemented nationwide. As such, it is important to continuously evaluate their impact to ensure that the goal of inclusive digital education is achieved.
Please note that the content provided in this article is subject to change as new policies or amendments may be introduced by the government in its efforts to enhance digital learning. For current updates, it is suggested to follow PIB or other verified sources.
