Lok Sabha Question No. 108 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-25
Subject: Online Content
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: HARI OM PANDEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 108 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2016

## Online Content

*108.  SHRI HARI OM PANDAY: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Ministry  has  signed  any  Memorandum  of  Understanding  with  nonGovernmental bodies for providing "Digital/Online Content" throughout the day and free of cost for the benefit of students and if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Ministry  proposes  to  launch  Massive  Open  Online  Courses  (MOOC) platform  'Swayam'  to  provide  high  quality  education  on  various  subjects  covering  all disciplines and also dedicated 'Prashikshak', a teacher education portal in the country and if so, the details and the salient features thereof;
- (c) the time by which the said facilities are likely to be launched; and
- (d) the manner and extent to which MOOC would be beneficial for the education system as well as to the students?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

Part (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  108  ASKED  BY  SHRI  HARI  OM  PANDAY  AND SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV REGARDING ONLINE CONTENT

(a) No Madam, Ministry has not signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with any non-governmental body for providing 'Digital/ Online Content'.

(b)  and  (c)    In  order  to  provide  the  best  teaching-learning  resources  to  the  students across  the  country,  Government  is  launching  Massive  Open  Online  Courses  (MOOCs) through Online Learning Portal named SWAYAM. Through this, it would be possible for any student or any school drop-out to join virtual classes offered by the best teachers in the Country, interact with the teacher, take tests, earn academic credits and transfer them on their academic record. The courses offered in this portal will cover 9 th Class to Post Graduation  levels.  SWAYAM  would  provide  one  stop  web  location  for  interactive  econtent for all courses having facility of peer group interaction and discussion forums to clarify doubts. SWAYAM and a number of MOOCs are likely to be launched soon.

Government has launched 'Prashikshak', a teacher education portal on 30 th June 2016 for bettering  the  standards  of  District  Institutes  of  Education  and  Training  (DIETs)  and teachers training.

(d)    The  Massive  Open  Online  Courses  (MOOCs)  offered  through  SWAYAM  will  be interactive and prepared by the best teachers in the country. Courses delivered through SWAYAM  will  be  available  free  of  cost  to  the  learners,  however  students  wanting certifications shall be registered and offered a certificate on successful completion of the course, with a little fee. At the end of each course, there will be an assessment of the student  through  proctored  examination  and  the  credits  secured  in  this  exam  could  be transferred to the academic record of the students.

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