Reaching Masses for Education

Am trying to focus on one of the points of my earlier blogs (http://citizenvoiceindia.blogspot.com/2009/07/combining-technology-and-education.html) about using technology to reach aspiring students.

Let’s put some statistics upfront on electronic reach. Today India has Cable and Satellite penetration of over 70 million households (35% of population), cellular phone penetration of over 350 million (30% of population) and internet penetration is over 12%. This means, over 56% of India is connected in some way or the other. This does not include the non-electronic reach.

The marketers are reaching out to each segment of this population. Using technology and innovations to tap the potential market. Isn’t it time for educationists to realize the dream of an educated India (or at least, a literate India)? Yes, there is also a commercial angle to this, for all those educationists who are not not-for-profit organizations.

If a two-minutes-noodle can change the way 15% of the country have their breakfast using TV as a medium, what stops 15% Indians to plant a tree in their neighborhood? Or to convert used news papers into paper bags? You have not only taught a way of earning a livelihood, you have also created the largest company of paper bag producers (will this not reduce the consumption of low grade plastic bags?).

You may say, ‘this is vocational education’!!! Let’s talk about primary education. Almost every village either has or can acquire a Television set. What stops us from broadcasting primary education with a live teacher teaching it and local coordinators handling 1st level questions of teachers or even using mobiles to handle questions through a call center?

This is equally applicable for rural and urban India. This is applicable for vocational, primary, secondary as well as higher studies.

If a marketer can reach the masses in India’s every nook and corner, so can education.

What we need is a ‘willingness’ to get the country educated and have an education that can earn them a living. Hope Mr. Sibal is listening!!!

Combining technology and education

A friend of mine asked me yesterday evening as to how technology can help education. Actually an interesting piece of thought. I started to think of multiple areas where technologies can really kick-start education or make it smoother.

All my thoughts gravitated to three aspects
a) How do you reach a larger number of people who have the basic infrastructure like connectivity (internet, cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phone etc.) and bring education into their fold?
b) Why is ‘Ice Age-3’ more memorable compared to the fact that Alexander invaded India in 326 BC?
c) How much of what we study today in our schools and collages is relevant to our jobs?

Using technology to reach (distribution of education), sink in (making education interesting and experiential), work for (getting students industry ready) is essential as it can change the face of education, face of students and the face of an economy.

But a bit of caution here. Technology will not solve any of these issues independently. One needs to have a ‘learner centric’ or ‘knowledge centric’ thinking and intent to create a knowledge economy. Technology can only be an enabler for making it happen. A second caution is that it is practically impossible to replace the teacher.

You know what surprised me the most? This question came in from a friend who is not an educationist. I am surprised, that our educationists, the education boards and the private training outfits are fighting for their piece of the economy and are not actually bothered thinking about growth of the knowledge economy!!!

I am dead sure technology cannot help change their mindset.