Is Technology a Silver Bullet for Education?

As COVID-19 continues to ravage communities across the subcontinent, forcing people to stay indoors, technology has restored a sense of the proximity one shared. Only this time, it is within the comfort of our homes. Over the last decade or so, technology has grown at a pace faster than what was imagined or envisaged, making its presence and value felt in every sector, most notably education. The potential for transformation is immense from user experience online to supplementing regular classroom-based methodologies. Intuitive and engaging as it is, gamification of regular formats could provide a more holistic and supportive learning environment for students while allowing teachers to be more collaborative and community-oriented in their approach, as PK Mishra, Addl. Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India argues.

One may argue whether such a shift is a response to COVID-19 or a gradual process finally coming to fruition. Either way, technology remains agnostic towards social and economic inequalities that continue to deprive millions of children of quality education across the subcontinent, more so in this pandemic. As schools and colleges move towards online models of teaching and pedagogy, millions of students continue to remain at a loss due to a lack of sufficient infrastructure, resources, or a stable internet connection thus running the risk of being left behind. On the flipside, teachers remain unfamiliar with online teaching, often struggling to deliver high-quality programs that maximise the learning potential of students in attendance. The question, therefore, is not whether or not technology is useful. Instead, how can we leverage the power and reach of technology to reach those most vulnerable and marginalized to fulfill India’s demographic dividend?

As Sam Pitroda poignantly states, ‘Digital India’ is not prepared for digital education. There will be significant investments needed over a prolonged period of time to ensure digital education remains universally accessible and effective. Further, at the level of government schools, providing tech. and infrastructure necessary to produce videos, modules, facilitate interactivity, and pick appropriate platforms is essential to ensure that every child is able to access educational content online. Even then, instilling a sense of digital discipline is key to ensuring such efforts remain successful as motivation, time, and content are the key ingredients to online education. Without these, we may well be staring at a critical mass of uneducated adolescents in the world’s second largest country with youth between 15 and 24 years of age.

The moot point is not whether technology is a silver bullet. As far as education is concerned, the writing is practically on the wall. However, utilizing resources in a way that meets our most pressing requirement to educate India’s youth, make them industry-ready, and create a safer, more equitable country for future generations is more important. COVID has undoubtedly wreaked havoc on our already fledgling infrastructure. It is now up to us to rebuild and strengthen. India’s future depends on it.