How Are Edtechs Building A Socially Responsible Ecosystem

GAURAV GOEL Apr 01, 2023

Education comes as an essential component of any society, and India is no exception. With a population of over 1.3 billion, our country is home to the globe's largest education system. However, there is a substantial difference in the quality of education and access to educational resources between urban and rural regions.

While the Government of India has floated numerous initiatives to bridge this gap such as the Digital India campaign which has provided internet connectivity to over 250,000 villages, enabling access to online education and bridging the gap between rural and urban infrastructure. However, it's the EdTech industry that is playing a paramount role in building a socially responsible ecosystem.

According to a report by KPMG, the Indian EdTech market is expected to reach a valuation of $30 billion by 2025, indicating the growing popularity and potential of digital learning solutions in the country.

The EdTech industry in India has been growing considerably in recent years, driven by the rising penetration of the internet, the advent of digital learning platforms, and the rising demand for more accessible and affordable education.

One of the primary challenges in delivering quality education to rural areas is the absence of infrastructure. A significant number of rural regions lack basic facilities such as electricity, internet connectivity and transportation, making it challenging for students to access educational resources.

The EdTech industry has been functioning to address these challenges by designing innovative solutions that leverage technology to make education more accessible to students in rural areas.

A survey by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of online education platforms in rural India increased by 13 per cent, compared to a 10 per cent increase in urban India.

Today, Edtech players have created avant-garde digital platforms for students to access quality education via online learning and virtual classes. This has helped to break down geographical barriers, offering an equal opportunity for rural students to compete with urban students.

As a prominent digital learning platform, Toprankers to date has successfully upskilled over 3 lakh students across the country who are carving a distinctive reputation in diverse domains. It also aims to deliver an unprecedented learning experience to students from all strata of society by involving both offline and online teaching models.

The use of virtual classrooms is another effective way in which the EdTech industry is bridging the gap between rural and urban infrastructure. Virtual classrooms allow students to attend classes online, interact with teachers and classmates and access educational resources from anywhere in the world.

A report by Omidyar Network India and RedSeer Consulting found that 43 per cent of students enrolled in edtech platforms were from Tier II and Tier III cities, indicating that online education is reaching students in rural areas.

With this, students can now access educational content, video lectures, and online courses via their smartphones, making education accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

The use of innovative technologies has also made it possible for students to learn through interactive videos, animations, and simulations. This has made learning more engaging and enjoyable for students, leading to better learning outcomes.

Another noteworthy benefit of the EdTech industry is the creation of new employment opportunities in rural locations. For instance, some EdTech players are furnishing training and certification programs to rural youth in the domains of coding, digital marketing, and data analytics. Besides creating job opportunities, this is also enabling the bridging of the skill gap in the rural workforce.

In addition, the EdTech industry has also played a paramount role in promoting digital literacy among rural communities. Digital literacy is an important skill in today's world, and the EdTech industry has helped to bridge the digital divide by offering access to digital devices and internet connectivity in rural areas. This in turn is augmenting the standard of living in rural areas by promoting e-commerce, e-governance and e-learning.

The EdTech segment in India has been instrumental in providing access to quality education and training for students in rural areas, contributing to the development of a more equitable and socially responsible education system.

In a study conducted by EdTech Review, it was found that students who used digital learning platforms demonstrated better performance and engagement than those who relied solely on traditional classroom teaching.

As technology continues to evolve, the EdTech industry in India has the potential to make an even more significant impact in bridging the gap between urban and rural infrastructure, building a promising future for all students.