JOIN USTowards an online-educated rural India
Online learning can go a long way in propelling rural India towards empowerment, writes Siddharth Chaturvedi
The development of technology has influenced every field known to man, including the educational system. India has an enormous appetite for quality education and the introduction of online learning has changed the entire face of the Indian educational system, so much so that the advancement in the education system is not just restricted to providing education, but also includes professional skill-based training for out-of-the-box career options. Quite evidently, the online learning program has reached to the most mature level of methodological learning.
India's online education market size seems to grow with a rapid pace, which could result in fetching a sea change to the country’s educational landscape. India, like any other economy, depends on the development of its educational sector because of its critical role played in any economic and social growth of a country.
Therefore it becomes even more important because it not only increases the productive skills of an individual but also enhances his earning power. Gladly, since the last decade when internet knocked our doors, we have moved a long way from conventional learning, and now, people can access knowledge online to keep pace with the latest developments. Although, India had woken up to the online learning trend quite late because of misconceptions like qualification certificates acquired online will hold no value compared to a certificate earned in a customary manner, but this was gradually proved baseless. In this present technologically advanced society, students who shaped their career by joining distance education classes have attained employment in top-notch companies.
One of the major problems faced by India is that almost all highly skilled professionals are based in bigger cities thus depriving the rural population from getting educated through them. But now tremendous opportunities exist in the untapped rural areas as online education is at its nascent stage in India. There is a huge student segment in India in the age range of 16 to 35, who are willing to learn online. Online learning simplifies this process by taking the knowledge to masses through internet connectivity available in their neighborhood.
There is a great demand for skilled labor from India’s industries. But workers from rural areas often lack the skill sets required for these upcoming job opportunities. Hence, the Indian Government is targeting to train 500 million people by 2022 and is encouraging participation of entrepreneurs and private organizations in the space. On the other hand, the rural India is embracing online learning in a big way. Moreover, several corporate, government, and educational organizations are taking up a plethora of endeavors to educate, train, and generate skilled workers. They are also creating a paradigm impact on employment generation with growth of a significant industry around it. Job oriented vocational courses are offered online and enable the students to complete their learning in a stipulated time. Since online courses are student centered and not time bound, it enables blended learning.
In my opinion, the time has come when, instead of segregation, integration of the education and career options shall take the front seat in rural India.
Sometimes the rural regions of India face the basic issues of accessibility and affordability of quality education and training. Studies have shown that rural youth face multiple challenges in migrating to urban areas.
This included poor net income in urban area due to high cost of living, social isolation from family and village life, and difficulties in adjusting to the urban way of life. This led to poor retention of trainees in the jobs in which they were placed in urban areas. But fortunately, in this increasingly interconnected world, technology no longer allows geography to pose a barrier in terms of education, skill development, and job opportunities in rural India.
During 2012, online education enrollment witnessed a considerable growth rate against a poor growth rate in overall higher education. This trend can be expected to continue in near future as the technological services become easier to distribute. And, there are no second thoughts on the fact that online training possesses tremendous potential to improve the lives of many people, and bridge the existing educational and cultural gap.
(The writer is director of a Bhopal-based education group)