NEW DELHI: An astounding 833 million Indian citizens reside in rural areas, amounting to 68.8% of the total population. Lack of basic infrastructure penetration, such as education has plagued the development of Indian rural youth for decades, and this was further aggravated by the pandemic, when education came to a standstill.
The pandemic saw the advent of EdTech platforms all across India. In 2020, the industry was valued at $750 million and is expected to grow to $10.4 billion by 2025. This meteoric rise of these platforms has made India the ‘EdTech Capital of the World’, with a special emphasis on growth in rural regions. This has been supported by India’s growing smartphone and 5G network penetration. As per the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India has already achieved a 61.62% internet penetration, a figure that directly translates to 850.95 million subscribers. This has allowed EdTech platforms to bring state-of-the-art training and upskilling programs to remote areas, empowering the youth with premium education models firsthand.
Mr. Rishabh Khanna, CEO and co-founder of Suraasa, agrees with the concept as he states, “EdTech has become a game-changer for professional development, especially for rural educators. Gone are the days of limited access. Now, teachers in far-flung locations can tap into a global network of expertise through webinars, online courses, and workshops offered by leading institutions and educators. This democratisation of knowledge empowers them to hone their skills, delve into specialised areas, or broaden their teaching repertoire – all on their own terms and schedule. Imagine a teacher in a remote town acquiring certifications from prestigious universities, a possibility unimaginable before EdTech. Furthermore, these platforms foster vibrant online communities where teachers from across the globe connect and collaborate. A teacher from a small town can now join forums and social media groups, exchanging ideas and learning new techniques that enrich their classrooms. So, EdTech isn't just a temporary trend; it's a core element of modern education. It's empowering remote teachers, once isolated, to become leaders in this new educational landscape.”
Here are 3 ways EdTech platforms are bringing world-class training to remote areas:
Public-Private Collaborations - EdTech platforms are partnering with reputable educational institutions to combine the latest educational edge and infrastructure to cater to India’s large rural learner population. Their partnerships with universities such as the IITs and IIMs are allowing these platforms to upgrade their modules with more accuracy and innovativeness than is being offered to the students in rural areas.
Leveraging New-Age Technologies - The advent of cutting-edge modern technologies such as Cloud, GenAI and others have contributed significantly to closing the educational gap in rural Indian regions. EdTech companies have increasingly adopted the most recent technologies that have enabled them to offer the latest skills to students in a streamlined manner. For example, cloud technologies have allowed EdTech platforms to integrate educational modules, enhancing accessibility to rural learners with limited connectivity. Similarly, GenAI tools have enabled EdTech platforms to offer more customised learning solutions to students,
Personalised Learning and Interactive Content - Innovation has taken centre stage to enhance the popularity of EdTech firms in India. Initiatives like personalised learning are helping students to learn in their diverse way with the help of highly engaging content that improves focus and learning experience. This has helped millions of Indian youth overcome obstacles in their upskilling journey, making the entire experience forward-thinking and hassle-free.