Pearson Education Services (PES) provides end-to-end customised education solutions in the K-12 segment, with a focus on technological innovations. Meena Ganesh, CEO and MD, Pearson Education Services, sheds light on the subject of transformations in education space in Gujarat
Gujarat is home to five top postgraduate institutes. Usage of IT in education helps further improve the education scene. It will change the face of teaching in terms of how teachers interact with students as well as the quality of content used. Technology will help add a whole new set of learning strategies that were never available before.
The proactive nature of the government has contributed largely to the overall growth and development of Gujarat and the state is now poised for taking development in education to the next level. The state government plays a pivotal role is making education available and accessible to all and it has come up with a range of to meet this goal. The Education policy needs to eliminate financial, legal and administrative barriers. It is most important to remove all obstacles to compulsory schooling. It should also ensure proper fiscal allocations through training of teachers and elimination of myriad social discriminations.
Gujarat to Leapfrog
Gujarat has always been known for its entrepreneurial ways. A similar attitude towards ICT in education would help in taking it a long way forward. Being home to India’s top educational institutions, Gujarat is always been an inspiration to all the other states and any step that this state takes tends to get followed by all the other states.
Introduction of ICT in education will go a long way in making students in India competent enough to compete with their counterparts across the world. The biggest challenge is acceptance of usage technology in education and overcoming the apprehension that comes with something new and unfamiliar. Most educators are uncertain of using technology and fail to see its benefits. But such issues can be resolved by training teachers and making them understand how to effectively use ICT.
Reaching the Last Mile
Reaching out to students from every cross-section of society is a major challenge. The VSAT technology platform seems to be an ideal model for making education available to all. This platform facilitates live classrooms by enabling two-way audio/video interactions, thus giving students access to the best faculty, irrespective of their location.
While Schools on Wheels is an excellent concept, for education to be effective, the method of delivery needs to be structured and consistent, and that is one area in which the scheme lags. Only when the instruction is structured, children will be able to grasp what they are being taught and there can be proper monitoring of progress.
On eINDIA 2011
eINDIA 2011 will bring together government, civil society, academia, and private sector enterprises across the world. This event will bestow international attention to the successes that Gujarat has achieved in the education space. It will also provide immense exposure to the stalwarts’ active in the education scene. They will be able to gather relevant experience for taking education in Gujarat to a new high.
