Question : Online Content

(a) whether the Ministry has signed any Memorandum of Understanding with non-
Governmental 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?

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 9th 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 30th 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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