Covid-19 crisis: How it has reshaped Indian education system?

With technology advancing at a rapid pace, the demand of job skills keep changing. Even though new ways of learning have been devised and ed-tech companies have managed to slowly seep their way into the education sector, the backbone of our education system still remains the same — traditional brick and mortar learning. However, if Covid-19 outbreak has made us realise anything, it is the significance of online learning.

Revamped education system is the need of the hour

Many schools have adopted online teaching method but while educational institutions that have means and resources, are harnessing online learning tools to deliver lectures via face-to-face video instruction, there are still thousands of students from public schools who are being left out. Additionally, a survey drawn out by Jaro Education concludes that while many schools have made education delivery convenient through online lessons, they still follow a classroom approach.

This highlights the fact that despite the government’s allocation of a substantial budget for education sector every year, what is equally important is a primary change in the format of education. This includes providing training to teachers on alternative teaching methods, gamification of learning, embracing e-learning and providing hands-on learning experience to students so that they can implement their theories and academic concepts.

Allowing universities to offer online degree courses can prove to be a game-changer

When it comes to higher education, for years, one of the biggest challenges has been access to education that is both qualitative and affordable. Furthermore, since India falls among the countries with largest working-age population, the need to up-skill working executives and enable them to stay relevant with the industry trends becomes crucial. It is only through inclusive education and providing the right job skills that our country can reap the economic benefits of having one of the largest working-class populations. However, it is not until recently that universities have been allowed to offer online degree courses by the government which otherwise have been done only through joint collaboration between ed-tech companies. For instance, top management institutes like NSE Academy and Dayananda Sagar University have been offering Executive MBA course through Jaro Education.

“The proposal by the government to allow top 100 institutions of India to offer degrees online can possibly bring about a radical shift in the higher education system and create new opportunities for working professionals,” said Jaro Education Dr. Sanjay Salunkhe. However, considering the huge skill gap in our country, there is a dire need to pick up the pace so that working executives as well as millions of students who join the workforce every year can reap the benefits at the soonest.