Leveraging Technology For Inclusive And Equitable Education
Share
Technology, emerging at such a rapid pace, is making education change with it, presenting unprecedented opportunities in terms of personalization, accessibility, and sustainability. As we move toward achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4)—inclusive and equitable quality education for all—it is time to ask how technology might be integrated into education systems everywhere. Although technology offers great promise, there are certain barriers that must be overcome so that technology reaches every student.
Technology can act as the impulse for the next education revolution in this scenario. That will happen only if we create an ecosystem in which equal access to, effective application of, and meaningful engagement with technology is possible. Differential digital access and heterogeneity are challenges in India, but these can be overcome with a cognizant strategy based on NEP 2020.
Access to education is one of the areas where technology has indeed proven a game-changer. NEP 2020 also emphasizes that an important outcome for education is to expand geographical scale of access to education via virtual and digital worlds, especially in rural and remote areas, as well. Most crucially SWAYAM, DIKSHA, and National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER) have emerged in the process. Such platforms are making high-quality content available to students from every corner of the country. We have seen how digital learning tools have made it possible to break the geographic boundaries of education, offering a broader reach to students in underserved regions.
Traditional classrooms hardly can respond to the varied needs of students; digital tools afford a facility where one can modulate the teaching. NEP 2020 also focuses on ‘adaptive learning’ which inculcates dynamism based on a need of a dynamic approach, diverting from fixed syllabus which keeps into mind individual learning. In many schools there is increased adoption of technology by teachers for preparing personalized learning paths for the children. For instance, AI-powered tools evaluate performance and adapt lessons on the fly for each child’s pace and learning progression, which leads to higher engagement as well as better learning outcomes.
Apart from this, technology helps in achieving environmental sustainability. Sustainability can no longer be a choice but becomes a need, and technology can contribute hugely to this change. NEP 2020 brings schools towards becoming more eco-friendly; here, again, technology contributes highly in the process by saving paper, optimizing resources, and wasting less. For instance, digital classrooms reduce the usage of paper-based resources, and online assessments reduce administrative waste. In addition, virtual labs and simulation software can be used to reach out to students to complex notions without a need for a physical framework, thus contributing to the concept of going green.
However, the potential comes with significant challenges – the major being the digital divide. For most of its existence, India continues to stay fragmented between an urban and rural division in regards to having access to a sure-shot internet connection along with appropriate devices..According to a 2021 NSSO report, more than 50% of rural households still lack internet access, which is a major obstacle to achieving equitable education. The NEP 2020 recognizes this and urges the increased adoption of technology in rural areas by promoting initiatives such as DIKSHA and digital schools. To fully realize the promise of technology in education, it is crucial to close this divide through targeted investments in infrastructure and policy support.
The other significant barrier technology faces in learning environments is the cost of implementation. The initial costs of implementing technology-the hardware, software, or professional development-can be a significant obstacle. The NEP 2020 is sensitive to this constraint and suggests partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society to provide affordable technological solutions for schools across the country. Public-private collaborations, such as with tech giants like Google for Education and Microsoft Education, provide tools and training at a fraction of the cost, allowing schools to scale up their digital efforts without bearing the full financial burden.
An equally important issue is resistance to change from educators. There are so many teachers who fear putting technology in the classrooms. It’s not only learning new tools but shifting the mindsets. To combat this challenge, constant educator training is needed, and NEP 2020 lays stress on digital literacy through professional development of the teachers. When teachers are confident in using technology, they also become better educators and improved learner experiences result from their efforts. Establish teacher training programs which build the capacity of educators to use digital tools effectively so technology is enabling, not a barrier, the NEP states.
Last, and equally relevant because technology is going to permeate the learning system of students worldwide, two important concerns of all stakeholders are issues about cybersecurity and data privacy, since with greater reliance on internet learning, all efforts have to be intentional for safeguarding data safety and protection of students’ privacy. The NEP 2020 looks to preserve the student information and gives data security guidelines on the creation of standards that ensure digital tools used in educational settings are strong on privacy. Schools and educational institutions need to focus more on cybersecurity for the safety of their students from these threats.
Technology unlocks more of the kind of education system to which every learner must have easy and fair access, but it must be approached with caution, thought, and collaboration with many stakeholders. The vision of the NEP 2020 aligns with this. By focusing on infrastructure, teacher training, inclusivity, and ethical implementation, we can create an education system that benefits all learners—regardless of their background. All stakeholders—governments, educators, tech companies, and communities—must work towards creating an educational ecosystem that is not only technologically advanced but also equitable, accessible, and sustainable as we move forward.
Vishal Aditya Sahoo, Director, New Age Learning, SAI International Education Group
