Covid has forced educational establishment to introduce e-learning tools

Context: Due to COVID-19 pandemic our education system is facing difficulties in meeting the digital divide between haves and have-nots. 

Challenges in the Indian education system :

• Low enrolment and high dropout rates. 
• Lower levels of learning outcomes.

• The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) :

• 27.2% of children in Class 3 had the ability to write. 
• One out of eight children in Class 4 knew simple division. 
• One out of five children of the Class 4 knew basic reading.
• Half the children in Class 6 could do multiplications.

• Lack of conducive environment: Lack of access to electricity and internet is impacting remote learning. 

• Only 24 % of households have internet facilities (National Sample Survey Education).

• Impact of COVID: 

• Heightened Digital Divide: The rich are becoming richer with knowledge acquisition while the poor are becoming poorer because of the absence of 3 A’s:

• Accessibility: refers to the set of activities that empowers the user to use technology.
• Affordability: level at which the consumer can endure the cost of the ICT service.
• Acceptance: of technological innovation, and is influenced by behavioural and social factors.

• Lack of access to electricity and the internet: Only 24 % of the households in the country have internet facilities (National Sample Survey Education).

Way Forward:

• Technology as catalytic agents of progress:  To make ICT as a mainstream practice in light of constitutional needs.

• Target 9C of the UNESCO’s SDGs talks of universal access to ICT.

• Stakeholder must use this opportunity to make education available for all rather than restricting it to the ones who can afford.

• Contemplate on Equity and Equality parameters: which are central to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals.

• Bridge digital divide: by working out solutions to make e-learning socially inclusive.