Question : Financial Assistance for Digital Education

(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 ?

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.
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