Context: Online education (OE) should supplement traditional educational institutions instead of replacing them.
Limitations of Online education
Physical space and Internet accessibility constraint: 71% of households with three or more members have dwellings with two rooms or less (Census 2011) and only 42% of urban and 15% of rural households have access to the internet (NSSO data 2017-18).
Incapable Smartphone and unstable internet connectivity: Major components of Online Education
Absence of Social cohesion: Public educational institutions are sites of social inclusion and relative equality.
Differential effect: Women students will be much worse affected if confined to their homes by online education.
Undermine State’s commitments in public education.
Vested Interests: centralised control and the idea of scaling-at-will attract Authoritarian administrators that will lead to the launch of a new era of vertically integrated hybrid OE platforms.
Online Education as a Supplement to Traditional Education System
It can use content and methods that are hard to include in the normal curriculum.
Pressure on lazy or incompetent teachers.
Provide hands-on experience in many technical fields where simulations are possible.
Powerful accessory for affluent students able to afford expensive aids.
Way Forward
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) enabled online education at all levels of education is needed to supplement, support and amplify the techniques of face-to-face education and traditional education.