Children’s Day 2022: How EdTech is transforming young lives & reshaping India’s educational landscape

Children’s Day is celebrated every 14^th November with great fervor in India. This day marks the birth anniversary of Independent India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Chacha Nehru, as he is fondly called, dedicated his life to the betterment of children and tirelessly worked towards establishing institutions that provide quality education.  

“The children of today will make the India of tomorrow. The way we bring them up will determine the future of the country” 

–Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru 

The day also signifies children’s rights and their right to education. Pandit Nehru always envisioned a modern India, which is the result of a strong education system. Education for all children has been challenging in India due to several factors like poverty and lack of access to education. This is when technology came as a savior. 

The advent of technology 

Technology has become a significant part of our daily lives and has marked its presence everywhere. Education is no exception. From the ancient Gurukul system to using artificial intelligence and virtual reality in classrooms today, technology has massively influenced the education sector. The popularity of online education is growing by leaps and bounds, and from children to working professionals, everyone is opting to study in the online mode.  

Online learning mode for undergraduate and master’s degrees has been popular for quite some time now, however, the Covid pandemic pushed children also to take up online classes. The pandemic brought millions of lives to a standstill, but thanks to technology, students could continue their studies without any hassle. Even though children’s screen time increased, they benefited from the positive side of technology. There are several ways EdTech can transform the lives of students.

Improved accessibility 

The major boon of technology is improved connectivity and accessibility. Technology in the education sector has eliminated the barrier of students traveling to school. It can largely benefit children residing in rural areas, who travel miles to attend school. With the help of a smartphone or laptop and an internet connection, they can attend classes from anywhere. Without having to spend much, schools and educational institutions with the help of EdTech firms, can make education virtually accessible to all. 

Virtual classrooms 

In physical classrooms, there is generally a limit to the number of students who can be present. However, with virtual classrooms, any number of students can attend classes simultaneously. Moreover, children can study from the comfort of their homes, with parents’ assistance in some cases. This helps parents keep an eye on their children’s academic progress. Moreover, cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence and virtual reality have made virtual classroom experiences interesting. Teachers can use multimedia tools to explain complex concepts and make it easily understandable. 

Improve literacy rate 

EdTech companies and educational institutions are not only aiming at improving the quality of education, but also making education accessible to all. When education is accessible, the literacy rate will naturally improve. The National Education Policy (NEP) published in 2020 states the need to integrate technology in classrooms. They have laid out the segments where EdTech players can contribute to improving the quality of education. This is aimed at achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 4, i.e., “ensuring inclusive and equitable education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.”   

This has further triggered the growth of EdTech firms, as companies are racing towards expanding their scale and net worth. EdTech firms, in collaboration with schools, are providing modern digital solutions that are helping institutions improve their quality of education. Moreover, apart from the fact that classes are conducted online, there is no major difference between online classes and physical classes. Even in online classes, students can interact with their classmates, attend live classes conducted by teachers and clarify doubts.   

Cutting-edge technology has reshaped the Indian education system. Digitally empowered classrooms have not only improved the quality of education, but also made it accessible to each student.  

Higher education in the online mode 

Higher education online modes have highly influenced virtual learning experiences for children as well. In the higher mode, universities are offering various online degrees that serve the purpose of students. The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently found out that enrollments for online degrees have increased, especially for programs like BBA and MBA. This increase in demand for online degrees can be due to many reasons like flexibility, improved accessibility and affordability.  

Universities use cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence to deliver classes and tutorials. With the help of an integrated learning management system (LMS), students can interact with peers & faculty, take up quizzes and appear for proctored exams online.  

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