There are many ways in which advanced technology can be utilized to impart education to students in remote areas. Using the internet and cable TV are a few methods in which this can be done. To make the subject more interesting, videos and animations can be used to explain topics better. This ensures that the student is able to grasp the topic thoroughly instead of memorizing it. Realizing the potential of these methods, the HRD ministry is introducing new reforms which will benefit the students all over the country.
What and How
Symbiosis International University’s 13th convocation ceremony was held on 1st October 2016 at their Lavale campus in Pune. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, who is currently in Israel, sent a recorded message to the students at the ceremony. In the message, he explained the various steps taken by the ministry to improve access to education in the country. The primary initiative would be the addition of over 2000 courses into the Massive Open Online Courses. This would help students gain knowledge from experts in the particular subject, learn from quality study material, and also receive certifications on successfully completing the course. This would be a great boost for students who are seeking certifications to improve their skillset.
Though the internet is widely available in India today, certain remote areas still do not have access to it. However, these areas have access to cable TV. To utilise this completely, HRD ministry will collaborate with TV operators to transmit the educational content for students all over the country.
Quality education
To improve the quality of higher education in the country, an agency would be set up to grant funds to premier institutes like IITs, NITs and IIMs to improve their infrastructure facilities in research. This agency would be called Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA). There is also an initiative (Global Initiative for Academic Network (GIAN)) which was set up to invite international faculty to teach at Indian institutions. Mr Javadekar also said that a choice-based credit system would be introduced in colleges.