Can Indian teens’ ease with smartphones be used to help fill in their education gaps? | In Focus podcast
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Can Indian teens’ ease with smartphones be used to help fill in their education gaps? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

This year’s Annual Status of Education Report or ASER, ‘Beyond Basics’, surveyed over 34,000 young people aged between 14 and 18, in 28 districts across the country, to get an inkling into: what are the young people of India currently doing? The results were perhaps not very surprising given that ASER, which is brought out by the NGO Pratham, has been flagging concerns about reading and numeracy levels among primary school children. It showed that about 25% of these teens could not read a second standard text fluently in their regional language and over 50% struggled with a fourth standard-level division problem. Guest: Rukmini Banerji, CEO of the Pratham Education Foundation Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston Listen to more In Focus podcasts:

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History of this topic

How can India's public school system bridge literacy gaps for marginalised youth?
1 week, 3 days ago

How can India's public school system bridge literacy gaps for marginalised youth?

India Today  

The literacy crisis amongst marginalised youth in India reflects systemic challenges deeply entrenched within the public education system. “Public schools, which cater to a majority of marginalised students, often lack the resources and infrastructure to address their specific learning needs,” says Awasthi. Private schools offer quality education to those who can afford it, while public schools cater to marginalised communities …

Invest heavily in education: It’s the cornerstone of a Viksit Bharat
1 week, 6 days ago

Invest heavily in education: It’s the cornerstone of a Viksit Bharat

Live Mint  

As India strides toward the vision of a Viksit Bharat or developed India, education emerges as the cornerstone of this transformation. Yet, the reality of India’s education system is marked by glaring disparities in access and quality, particularly between income groups. According to PRICE’s ICE 360 Survey, nearly 60% of children from these households drop out before completing higher secondary …

Tech Savvy Youth: Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Skillful Future
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Tech Savvy Youth: Leveraging Emerging Technologies for Skillful Future

Hindustan Times  

The article highlights the importance of leveraging technology to address the skills gap and empower India's workforce. It emphasizes the need for open-source national job and skilling platforms that provide personalized learning experiences, including AI-powered tools for career guidance and mentorship. The article also stresses the importance of addressing access issues, particularly for women and rural populations, to ensure inclusivity. …

Teen boys twice as likely to own smartphones than girls in rural India: ASER
11 months ago

Teen boys twice as likely to own smartphones than girls in rural India: ASER

Hindustan Times  

Boys in the age group 14-18 years in rural India are more than twice as likely to own smartphones compared to girls, and the latter are less likely to know how to use smartphones than their male counterparts, the latest Annual Status of Education Report survey released on Wednesday said. The ASER 2023 report titled “beyond basics”, led by Pratham …

Tracking India's digital progress: The need for measuring digital skills
1 year, 4 months ago

Tracking India's digital progress: The need for measuring digital skills

Deccan Chronicle  

Digitalisation has been a big part of the national agenda in the last decade. In a post-pandemic world, SDG 4.4.1 — about youths’ digital literacy skills — has emerged as a key competency goal, which might also dictate future opportunities available to youth. This document encourages the development of a uniform definition of digital literacy for G20 member nations, including …

More students using smartphones for entertainment than study: survey
1 year, 4 months ago

More students using smartphones for entertainment than study: survey

The Hindu  

A pan-India survey of 6,229 parents of schoolchildren, aged 6–16, in rural communities across 21 States revealed more kids used smartphones for entertainment rather than for studying. However, among the parents whose children have access to gadgets, 76.7% stated that their children primarily use mobile phones to play video games. The survey included responses from 6,229 parents, of whom 6,135 …

How EdTech is Transforming Teaching and Learning in India - News18
1 year, 4 months ago

How EdTech is Transforming Teaching and Learning in India - News18

News 18  

Education Technology, popularly known as EdTech, has revolutionised the education sector in recent years. Growth in the Indian EdTech sector has been backed by growing demand as well as innovative learning models offered by homegrown EdTech startups, aided by a facilitative new education policy. EdTech involves the use of digital platforms, software tools, and devices to facilitate education and enhance …

Bridging the digital divide in India's education landscape demands a multi-faceted approach
1 year, 6 months ago

Bridging the digital divide in India's education landscape demands a multi-faceted approach

India Today  

While digital learning platforms are hailed as the future of education delivery in India, a considerable chunk of our population still lacks the necessary resources including devices, infrastructure, and digital literacy to reap the benefits of digital education. BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH "According to a survey indicated that over 85 percent of households across India had …

Seeing Kids In India Learn Via Tech Makes My Heart Sing, Says Apple CEO Tim Cook
1 year, 8 months ago

Seeing Kids In India Learn Via Tech Makes My Heart Sing, Says Apple CEO Tim Cook

News 18  

Apple has always believed that education is the great equaliser for people and the tech giant will continue to expand education and skilling initiatives in India to connect more underprivileged kids to the mainstream, Apple CEO Tim Cook told IANS on Wednesday. Returning to India after seven years to launch Apple’s first own-branded retail store here, Cook paid a visit …

India’s youth need computer skilling
1 year, 9 months ago

India’s youth need computer skilling

Hindustan Times  

The target year for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, signed in 2015, is 2030. While 2030 may seem a long way off, reaching the 17 goals and 169 targets is a challenge, thanks to the impact of Covid-19, the Ukraine war and sluggish global economic growth. As part of the SDG monitoring process, the National Sample Survey Office conducted a …

Education Budget 2023: Focus on Building Reading Habit, Education Among Tribal Children, Key Takeaways From Union Budget
1 year, 10 months ago

Education Budget 2023: Focus on Building Reading Habit, Education Among Tribal Children, Key Takeaways From Union Budget

News 18  

In the recently announced Union Budget 2023, the education budget focuses on increasing literacy among children in an organic manner as well as building an ecosystem that equips youth with the right skills for the job market. In a boost to increasing literacy among tribal children, the minister announced the recruitment of 38,800 teachers and support staff for 740 Eklavya …

Budget 2023: Improve quality of education, provide more equitable access to learning opportunities for all students
1 year, 10 months ago

Budget 2023: Improve quality of education, provide more equitable access to learning opportunities for all students

Firstpost  

Remove GST on the supply of goods for digital education, and services used for teaching and learning applications The Union Budget 2023 is fast approaching and the ed-tech sector is waiting eagerly for the government’s plans for the sector. The ed-tech sector is hoping that the Union Budget 2023 will be a catalyst for the growth of the industry, and …

Digital learning: Way forward for education in tier II and tier III cities in India
2 years ago

Digital learning: Way forward for education in tier II and tier III cities in India

India Today  

Recently, the government announced the M SHRI scheme to upgrade 14,500 of the one million+ government schools with modern and green infrastructure. Schools in Tier I cities perform better in terms of access, facilities, and learning results, but those in rural India still fall behind. RENEWED FOCUS ON EDUCATION However, the Digital India Mission and NEP 2020's renewed focus on …

A new digital lifestyle is taking shape in India: Education Minister
2 years, 2 months ago

A new digital lifestyle is taking shape in India: Education Minister

Live Mint  

New Delhi: There is a new ‘digital lifestyle’ taking shape in India, said Union Minister for Education and Skill Development, Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday. Addressing the inaugural session of the International Conclave on ‘Digital Transformation and Internationalization of Higher Education’ organized by the Deakin University, Australia, the minister said that India’s digitization is creating new opportunities with the indigenous 5G …

Investing right and early: How early years in school determines academic excellence
2 years, 3 months ago

Investing right and early: How early years in school determines academic excellence

Firstpost  

As the world celebrates International Day of Literacy, India has as much to celebrate about as much to worry. Similarly, in India’s aspirational districts, for example, the probability of girls getting primary education is about 42 per cent lower than boys, and it remains so even when other variables, such as religion and caste, are controlled. Acknowledging its deep stratified …

We must invest in our teachers for India to take its next big leap
2 years, 3 months ago

We must invest in our teachers for India to take its next big leap

Live Mint  

Through the 20th century, the sobriquet for India shifted from a newly independent country to a developing nation standing on the shoulders of a strong agrarian economy. With a tech talent demand-supply gap of just 21.1%—the lowest among major economies—and a significant leap in the Global Innovation Index over the last decade, the India of 2022 is staking its claim …

Assam Education Board Developing App for School Students: Minister
2 years, 4 months ago

Assam Education Board Developing App for School Students: Minister

News 18  

A mobile application was being developed by the Board of Secondary Education in Assam for the benefit of school students, state education minister Ranoj Pegu said. He also said that the education department had been exploring digital education mechanisms in keeping with the growing use of technology in all spheres of life. Speaking at the launch of two mobile phone …

5 factors that are contributing towards digitisation of education
2 years, 7 months ago

5 factors that are contributing towards digitisation of education

India Today  

In India, various factors, the most important of which is technology, have revolutionized the education system, and conventional teaching-learning techniques have given way to more modern approaches. ONLINE TEACHING The conventional approach to teaching and learning is making way for technologically advanced audio-visual aids, state-of-the-art technology and new-age teaching tools and techniques. TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS FOR ONLINE CLASSROOMS Rapid …

Top ed-tech trends for 2022 that will make learning joyful
2 years, 10 months ago

Top ed-tech trends for 2022 that will make learning joyful

India Today  

Today, we are living in a world that is characterized by constant change. Holistic learning gives way for more multi-dimensional, practical and skill-based training, preparing individuals for the future world of work. Furthermore, post the pandemic, the flexibility of the workplace allowed many employees to work remotely, also driving better mental health, that in turn increased productivity. Immersive and experiential …

Year-ender 2021: How Covid-19 pandemic enabled EdTech to become leading sector for growth
2 years, 11 months ago

Year-ender 2021: How Covid-19 pandemic enabled EdTech to become leading sector for growth

India Today  

The increased adoption by institutions, professionals, parents, and students marks the growth. Adoption of EdTech tools and products by students, teachers, and institutes The pandemic enabled EdTech to become the leading sector for growth. Even while educational technology, or edtech, has been around for a while, the worldwide lockdown caused by the pandemic was undoubtedly the driving force for its …

Kerala Ahead of Other States in Providing Online Education: Pinarayi Vijayan
3 years, 1 month ago

Kerala Ahead of Other States in Providing Online Education: Pinarayi Vijayan

News 18  

Kerala is much ahead of other states in providing online education to children during the COVID-19 pandemic, as 91 per cent of those in rural areas were able to continue their studies with the help of technology, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Thursday. While 91 per cent of children in rural areas of Kerala had access to online classes, …

School Closure, Digital Divide, Learning Gap: Post-COVID India Needs Resilient Education System
3 years, 1 month ago

School Closure, Digital Divide, Learning Gap: Post-COVID India Needs Resilient Education System

News 18  

Education remains the solitary ray of hope for many to break the vicious circle of poverty. However, the data released by the Unified District Information System for Education for the academic session 2019-20 shows that 78 per cent of schools in India don’t have internet facilities and more than 61 per cent do not even have computers. Approximately 12 crore …

Loans for Smartphones, Trekking Through Jungles: 'Lost Generation' Fears as Covid Locks Out India's Poor Students
3 years, 4 months ago

Loans for Smartphones, Trekking Through Jungles: 'Lost Generation' Fears as Covid Locks Out India's Poor Students

News 18  

CS Satheesha spells out “A-P-P-L-E” into his phone as he teaches remotely from the only place he can get a signal — a treehouse in his back garden in southern India. In the Kodagu district of Karnataka state, eight-year-old Shreeshma listens to Satheesha’s WhatsApp voice notes on her mother’s phone on her porch and repeats sentences such as: “This is …

When students can’t study
3 years, 5 months ago

When students can’t study

Hindustan Times  

Nearly 78% of schools in India don’t have internet facilities, and more than 61% do not have computers, the latest Unified District Information System for Education data, released by the Centre for 2019-20 shows. Only one-third of students could pursue online education, and only 32.5% are doing live online classes, according to the Annual Status of Education Report released in …

Percentage of school students owning smartphone in rural India rose to 61% in 2 years: Economic Survey
3 years, 10 months ago

Percentage of school students owning smartphone in rural India rose to 61% in 2 years: Economic Survey

India Today  

The percentage of school students owning a smartphone in rural India has increased from over 36 per cent to 61 per cent in the last two years, the Economic Survey 2020-21 noted and stated that if utilised well, the resultant reduction in digital divide is likely to reduce inequalities in educational outcomes. Literacy rate in India "While India has attained …

Opinion | Reimagining India’s digital transformation in vital sectors
4 years ago

Opinion | Reimagining India’s digital transformation in vital sectors

Live Mint  

India has been on a digital-first trajectory for a few years, spurred on by its goal of becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy by 2025. Digital transformation across key sectors like manufacturing, education, healthcare, as well as government services and labor markets has the potential for each sector to create $10-$150 billion incremental economic value by 2025. Their efforts are well …

Digitizing education in India: All you need to know
4 years, 1 month ago

Digitizing education in India: All you need to know

India Today  

From the gurukuls of old where students gathered outdoors to listen to the teachings of their guru, Indian education has come a long way. Instead, EdTech is becoming a mainstream part of education for India’s rapidly growing learner population. 3 drivers for edtech innovation in India Market Demand for EdTech is Growing Rapidly Digitisation and increased mobile penetration have significantly …

Patralekha Chatterjee | Prioritise the needs of most vulnerable kids
4 years, 1 month ago

Patralekha Chatterjee | Prioritise the needs of most vulnerable kids

Deccan Chronicle  

As we continue to navigate the multiple uncertainties thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic, there is a heartening finding from the latest Annual Status of Education Report that deserves special attention. Of the lot who didn’t have a smartphone at home, around 13 per cent said their children could access someone else’s smartphone. The latest ASER survey offers insights about …

Covid-19 impact: Is it enough to simply introduce technology and infuse it into a current educational framework?
4 years, 2 months ago

Covid-19 impact: Is it enough to simply introduce technology and infuse it into a current educational framework?

India Today  

The Covid-19 pandemic has reawakened the debate about the correct balance between teacher-student engagement and technology. In May 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged that 'India must become a global knowledge superpower and that special emphasis must be given to the use of technology in the education sector by enhancing learning mechanisms with the use of technology, such as online …

Why adoption of tech enabled solutions as part of mainstream education, is the way forward for Indian schools
4 years, 3 months ago

Why adoption of tech enabled solutions as part of mainstream education, is the way forward for Indian schools

India Today  

The Indian education system has recently realised the significance of technology adoption, in the face of the pandemic. When the lockdown forced the closure of physical classrooms, schools turned to technology enabled solutions for conducting virtual classes, which has helped accelerate the growth of edtech sector manifold, within a short time span. Why adoption of tech enabled solutions as part …

Covid-19 deepens digital divide: How to upgrade rural education system in India
4 years, 3 months ago

Covid-19 deepens digital divide: How to upgrade rural education system in India

India Today  

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the Indian education system, pushing the migrate from traditional education to online. In a sense, it has created an opportunity to fill the gaps in rural education, which has many challenges for students such as lack of parental interest, digital divide, traditional modes of teaching, under-trained faculty, etc. Digital divide Despite having the second-largest internet …

Glaring digital divide in education in India: Covid-19 gives opportunity for digital inclusion
4 years, 3 months ago

Glaring digital divide in education in India: Covid-19 gives opportunity for digital inclusion

India Today  

India has the world’s largest education system with over 250 million students enrolled in some 1.5 million schools and another 37.4 million students enrolled in approximately 50,000 Higher Educational Institutions. his shift from a chalk-talk mode to online mode has bared a big digital divide in India’s education system at two levels: a) Continuity of learning of students in urban …

Top 6 Ed-Tech trends in India post Covid-19
4 years, 4 months ago

Top 6 Ed-Tech trends in India post Covid-19

India Today  

The ongoing Covid-19 crises and the resultant lockdown over the past few months, has accelerated the adoption of technology across sectors, including education. And long after the pandemic, once the lockdown is eased and schools do finally open, a lot of parents may opt for complete or partial provisions for home schooling via virtual classrooms. Digital learning with on-demand content: …

India's Online Education Landscape Has Changed Because Broadband Was Ready - News18
4 years, 4 months ago

India's Online Education Landscape Has Changed Because Broadband Was Ready - News18

News 18  

The Covid pandemic has proved to be the biggest change agent for the education system. In India, the technology impetus within education is irreversible and the New Education Policy has also laid emphasis on this with the proposed creation of the National Educational Technology Forum. The lack of physical or facility-based instruction across the globe has created a fertile ground …

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