(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Integrating Technology into Rural Education and Capacity Building of Teachers

(NOVEMBER-2023)

Integrating Technology into Rural Education and Capacity Building of Teachers

Introduction:

Indian education system is one of the largest in the world. A total of 18.49 lakh (70%) students and around 12.34 lakh (83%) schools out of these are in rural India. With a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 100.13% (as per UDISE+ 2021-22), which shows that almost all children at the elementary level are enrolled in schools. The UDISE+ 2021-22 data also reveals that the overall dropout rate in schools in India at primary level class (1-5) is 1.5 per cent, upper primary class (6-8) is at 3 per cent followed by highest at the secondary level class (9-10) with 12.6 per cent which is still a major challenge. Over the years, India has made significant progress towards achieving universalisation of elementary education.

Challenging Scenario

However, there are still many issues that the Indian educational system must address, including the stark differences between rural and urban populations and the need for equal, inclusive, and high-quality education. The Covid-19 pandemic, when online learning was the only available type of education for students in the nation, made it even more crucial.
Children all around the country, but particularly those living in rural regions, faced difficulties due to connectivity issues, a lack of smartphones, and limited or no internet access. The main obstacles to advancing digital learning across the nation include persistent inequities in access to information and communication technology (ICT) facilities for students and teachers, as well as low levels of digital literacy.

Visionary Approach of NEP 2020

The NEP 2020 aims to focus on holistic development and critical thinking of students. It promotes experiential learning, creativity, and problem-solving skills, enabling rural students to develop a well-rounded personality. Few initiatives are given below:

Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning ProgrammeDhruv has been started to identify and encourage talented children to enrich their skills and knowledge, gifted children are mentored and nurtured by renowned experts in different areas, so that they can reach their full potential. In this regard, a detailed guideline is under process, which will be aligned with the recommendations of NEP 2020.
Samagra Shiksha: The centrally sponsored scheme has various interventions, like the establishment of Youth club and Eco clubs to showcase their innate talents and hone their skills. Also, activities like Kala Utsav, Rangotsav, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Band Competition, etc. are supported in the schools, wherein children get an opportunity to exhibit their innate talent.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB): The initiative was launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on Ekta Diwas (31st October 2015) to foster national integration through a coordinated mutual engagement process between States, UTs, Central Ministries, Educational Institutions, and the general public through linguistic, literary, cultural, sports, tourism, and other forms of people-to-people exchanges.
Navodaya Vidyalayas select students for residential schooling on the basis of an all-India competitive entrance exams. Its significance lies in the selection of talented rural children as the target group and the attempt to provide them with a ‘quality education comparable to the best in a residential school system. The identified talented children are nurtured and educated from class 6th to 12th grade in the Vidyalayas until they complete schooling.

Technological Interventions to Enhance the Ecosystem

The impact of technology disruption in the 21st century on education has been profound and multifaceted. It has democratised access to knowledge, transformed teaching and learning methods, and reshaped the roles of educators. Educational institutions have adapted to new models of delivery, and assessment has become more data-driven. However, challenges related to access, digital literacy, and data privacy are required to be addressed to harness the full potential of technology in education. In this rapidly evolving landscape, it is essential for educators, policymakers, and society as a whole to embrace technology as a tool for positive change while also addressing its associated challenges.

i. Enhancing the scope of ICT under Samagra Shiksha: Samagra Shiksha, the largest centrally sponsored scheme for school education in India, contains provisions for producing high-quality e-contents for teachers and students in addition to supporting ICT and smart classrooms in both government and government-aided schools throughout all states and UTs.

ii. Robust system of database - UDISE+ : Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) is an updated and improved version of UDISE, which is now online and has been collecting data in real-time since 2018-19. It provides robust, real-time, and credible information for an objective evaluation of the system, which can be used for designing evidence-based specific interventions for improvement in the school education sector. UDISE+, collects information through an online Data Collection Form (DCF) on parameters ranging from students, schools, teachers, Infrastructure, enrolments, examination results, etc.

iii. Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 : PGI 2.0 is the revamped version (started in 2017) that is aligned with new initiatives of the NEP 2020, to monitor indicators relating to Goal 4 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a tool to provide insights on the status of school education and to catalyse transformational change in the States/UTs on the basis of key indicators that drive their performance and critical areas for improvement. It has also helped States/UTs to identify specific interventions required to make transformational changes in school education.

iv. NDEAR (National Digital Education Architecture) : NDEAR has been launched with a larger vision to create a unifying national digital infrastructure to energise and catalyse the education ecosystem. The core idea of NDEAR is to facilitate achieving the goals laid down by NEP 2020, through a digital infrastructure for innovations in the education ecosystem, ensuring autonomy and participation of all the relevant stakeholders.

v. Vidya Samiksha Kendra: To further strengthen and enhance administrative functioning by providing real time data insight for contextual interventions, the Ministry of Education, Government of India has launched Vidya Samiksha Kendra.

Conclusion and Way forward:

The disruption brought about by technology will undoubtedly be the driving force of the 21st century. The integration of technology into education has not only changed the way we teach and learn but has also altered the very essence of education itself. However, bridging the digital divide remains a crucial challenge in ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all.
Teachers are no longer just disseminators of knowledge but have become facilitators of learning. They use technology to create interactive and collaborative learning environments, encouraging students to actively participate in the learning process. Additionally, technology has opened up opportunities for professional development and networking among educators, enabling them to stay updated with the latest pedagogical trends and best practices.