The Central government of India has recently turned its attention to addressing the social inequities in online education that have been underscored by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The proposed measures involve providing laptops or tablets to approximately 40% of college and university students while equipping all government schools with Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This long-term commitment to extended virtual learning was initiated in April 2020 when the Centre announced a virtual start to the 2020-21 academic year.
Facilitation of Online Education: Providing Hardware and Digital Infrastructure
The government’s plan involves distributing laptops or tablets to approximately 4.06 crore students, which constitutes about 40% of the projected student population. The ambitious project, slated for completion by 2026, is estimated to cost Rs. 60,900 crore. The Centre and state governments are set to share these costs at a 60:40 ratio.
Moreover, the Ministry of Human Resource Development is planning to invest Rs. 2,306 crore on developing and translating digital course content over the next five years. They will utilize various e-learning techniques such as YouTube, Google Classroom, SWAYAM Prabha portal, and direct-to-home (DTH) services.
Safety Measures: Sanitization and Quarantine Protocols for Reopening Schools
Before reopening schools, a series of safety measures will be put in place. These include ensuring basic water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, provision of safe drinking water, availability of sanitizer and disinfectant, and temperature checking devices. They also plan to allocate financial support for these initiatives.
Social Inequity: Challenges to e-Learning Accessibility
The transition to e-learning has been fraught with challenges for students from lower income backgrounds who lack access to the necessary resources for online learning, including computers, laptops, and stable internet connection. At the same time, teachers may also face technological constraints. Critics argue that the shift to online education could potentially exacerbate these class disparities, particularly if corporate houses, technology firms, and educational institutions collaborate in ways that exclude students from economically weaker backgrounds.
Curriculum Considerations: The Limitations of Virtual Learning
Certain areas of study that rely heavily on practical learning, such as beauty culture, fashion design and tailoring, office management, travel and tourism, and web design, face unique challenges when it comes to online education. The value of traditional classroom organisations as social spaces for teaching not just academic knowledge but also social skills is also called into question.
Way Forward: Making Technology Accessible and Adapting Our Definitions of Education
The government has been urged to make access to technology more universal within the public education system. Private entities can help by making e-resources accessible under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Moreover, some argue that current definitions of the right to education need to be reconceptualised to emphasize connectivity and access to knowledge and information—an important pivot considering the shift towards digital modes of learning.