Lok Sabha Question No. 1117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-26
Subject: Financial Assistance for Digital Education
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed, Pashupati Nath Singh, Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara, Prabhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Raju Bista

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1117

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th  JULY, 2021

## Financial Assistance for Digital Education

1117. SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it  is  a  fact  that  due  to  lockdown  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  many schools, both private and Government have to shift towards e-learnings ;
- (b)  if  so,  whether  all  the  students  including  Government  schools  have  access  to computers and mobile phones with internet facilities  and  all  the  schools,  teachers and students are well trained to handle them and if so, the details thereof along with the data of the students without such facilities ;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  financial  support  for  the  digital class  for  purchase  of  mobile,  laptops  and  other  basic  electronics  equipments  to students to the Government aided Schools across the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the efforts taken by the Government for scientifically implementation of the digital learning programme in Government higher education institutions; and
- (f) the other measures taken/ being taken by the Government towards resolving the technology divide between rural and urban region ?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF EDUCATION (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)

(a) and (b) Yes, due to prevalence of COVID-19, educational institutions in large parts of India have been unable to conduct physical classes. However, the efforts for teaching-learning process to continue in online and offline mode has been tried by both Central and respective state government.

Online classes are being conducted at the schools by employing various digital tools in the form of DIKSHA portal (https://diksha.gov.in/), SWAYAM Portal (swayam.gov.in), e-Pathshala (https://epathshala.nic.in/), NROER (National Repository of Open Educational Resources) portal (https://nroer.gov.in/welcome).

Learning programmes have also been started in the form of offline learning tools in the  form  of  SWAYAM  Prabha,  DD  Channel,  radio,  community  radio  and  CBSE podcasts,   toll  free  numbers,  missed  call,  SMS  based  requests  for  audio  content, localized radio content for edutainment etc. The medium of TV, radio has been used for the students who do not have internet access.

Education  is  a  subject  in  the  Concurrent  List  of  the  Constitution,  and  the  matter relating to education pertains to Central as well as the State Government concerned The state governments have been directed to act based on the situation prevailing at every place to meet the demands of all students for providing them with the digital access required for learning digitally.

An  Integrated  Teacher  Training  Programme  called NISHTHA has  been  launched, it is  a  capacity  building  programme  for " Improving  Quality  of  School  Education through  Integrated  Teacher  Training ". NISHTHA can be accessed from the below link:   https://itpd.ncert.gov.in//

(c) and (d) Depending  on  the  states' requirement  the Ministry of  Education provides  Rs.6.40  Lakh  for  setting  up  computer  labs  and  Rs.2.40  Lakh  for  smart classroom in the Samagra Shiksha scheme.

(e) and (f) Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education is administering 'National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology' (NMEICT)  Scheme to  leverage  the  potential  of  ICT,  in  providing  high  quality personalized and interactive knowledge modules over the internet/ intranet for all the learners  in  Higher  Education  Institutions  in  anytime  anywhere  mode. Under  this scheme, various digital initiatives are being undertaken viz. SWAYAM ("Study Webs of  Active-Learning  for  Young  Aspiring  Minds"),  SWAYAM  Prabha,  National  Digital Library  (NDL),  Virtual Lab,  e-Yantra,  FOSSEE,  NEAT (National Education Alliance for technology) etc. to ensure quality education to students, across the country.

In order to promote Online education, UGC has notified necessary regulation, which facilitates  the  Universities  to  offer  full-fledged  Online  Program.  Further,  the  current provisions of 20 per cent Online courses in a programme, as per provisions of UGC SWAYAM and ODL Regulations, enhanced up to maximum 40 per cent.

**********