The Union Budget of the year 2011-12 specified the intention of the Government to connect major educational institutions across India with a high speed network that will enable the transmission and sharing of knowledge resources. The National Knowledge Network (NKN) will play a major role in taking quality education to distant and remote areas. The article highlights some key elements of NKN and its role in creating a knowledge society
By Sheena Joseph
Higher education in India has figured in the priority list of the Government's development agenda over the last few years. The ever increasing demand for quality education and the burgeoning youth population has necessitated the need to make educational resources available and accessible to all learners, irrespective of geographical barriers. Here is where the National Knowledge Network (NKN) will act as a major factor in dissemination of education to the masses.
The efforts progressively highlights the considerable measures being taken by the government to integrate technology into education and the acceptance of ICT as a tool for change. The technology enhanced network is envisaged as a channel that will take knowledge resource to all, thereby breaking the barriers in education outreach. N K Sinha, Additional Secretary (TEL), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, Government of India is emphatic in pointing out the importance of technology, and says, “Technology is playing a very major role in providing the multiplier effect and in improving the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in education. It has helped in quality enhancement efforts, ameliorating teacher shortage, taking care of the needs of the working population by providing access to education anytime, anywhere and teacher empowerment.” The NKN project will see massive use of technology to connect institutions of learning across India, and thereby putting to use the immense potential of ICT in education.
“
