Mexus Education, a Bilakhia Group enterprise, has been promoting learning through technology based platforms like multimedia DVDs, motion films and interactive online tools. Anil Goyal, Director, Mexus Education, shares his views on education in Gujarat
The academic foundations of the state can only be strengthened by an all-round development in education. The development has to be right from the primary stage to the higher stages of education. The attempt to branch-out from conventional mainstream areas by setting up nationally recognized Business School, Fashion Technology Institute, Entrepreneurship Development Institute has actually made education more relevant to the citizens.
Initiatives have also been taken at school-level education, to ensure that students step into these academic pursuits with right orientation and mindsets. Efforts like School on Wheels, Kanya Kelavani, and the partnering with NGOs, are designed to make children better skilled, so that they may fit into the changing economy and tap emerging opportunities in the state.
Gujarat to Leapfrog
The opportunities in Educational ICT abounds. These shortcomings are increasingly acknowledged and accepted by the policy makers, as well as school administrators. In this decade, there is a strong need to use technology. Only technology can make education more relevant to current dynamics of economy. This easiest and most convenient way of addressing this pulsating need is by furthering a teaching-learning process through fusion with ICT. Indian Education is poised to incorporate audio-visual learning, collaborative learning and knowledge sharing elements. ICT is imperative to set a framework for these initiatives.
Reaching the Last Mile
For bringing education to the rural masses, we need to develop a model of education that is relevant to them. This will engage rural masses and ensure that they stay with the system, and thereby dropouts will be minimized.
- Application-orientation specific to their skill sets that can improve the chances of getting proper employment will generate interest.
- Setting up a robust technology support which is not only easy to use, but also inexpensive and less dependent on existing infrastructure and facilities.
- Ensuring that the system attracts a large number of students so that the economic viability of the model is maintained.
Initiatives like ‘Schools on Wheel’ would go a long way in addressing the digital divide, as it reaches out to students regardless of infrastructure, as well as the basic facilities.
On eINDIA 2011
eINDIA 2011 is designed to highlight the myriad initiatives that the government has undertaken for improving literacy levels in Gujarat. This event will prove that when it comes to education, Gujarat is far ahead of other states in the country. The coming together of academicians, educators, government officials and the corporate on a single platform will definitely lead to solutions that foster an inclusive growth in education sector.
