All facets of our everyday lives now depend heavily on technology, and education is no exception. The way teachers, schools, and administrators function has changed as a result of EdTech companies and technological advancements in recent years. Even the way today's tech-savvy students learn has altered as a result.
Is the EdTech era ended now that we are moving into the post-pandemic era? is one of the concerns that is commonly posed. What will the EdTech companies do now that schools have fully resumed operations?
These questions can be answered in a variety of ways. First, Edtech companies will continue to revolutionise the Indian educational system in conjunction with schools. EdTech will continue to benefit schools by simplifying the lives of all stakeholders using tools like enterprise resource planning (ERP), learning management systems (LMS), and content management systems (CMS). On the other hand, schools will continue to embrace contemporary digital platforms because they not only support their pedagogies but also help close the gap between in-class and at-home studying, making the learning process easier for all young students.
Second, these solutions free teachers from administrative or non-teaching tasks, allowing them to focus on their students and the quality of education they provide. As a result, the overall learning outcomes improve. Furthermore, with the assistance of digital solutions, schools are able to focus on one of the key mandates of having regular and professional development for teachers, including assisting them in improving their digital literacy to handle the 21st-century learning environment.
Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Ministry of Education has clearly laid out the segments where EdTech players can contribute to improving Indian education at inside schools. The policy is promoting 21st Century Learning in all aspects. Starting from redesigning the pre-primary to K-12 into 4 compartments and have mandated schools to pay attention to not only cognitive development but also character building, creating holistic and well-rounded individuals, equipped with 21st-century skills from an early age. This requires the curriculum and pedagogy in Schools to deliver holistic, integrated, enjoyable and engaging learning.
NEP 2020 has five key mandates to which EdTech companies can make significant contributions.
(1) Digitalization is essential. Technology should automate routine and administrative tasks so that educators can focus on education quality, resulting in better learning outcomes for students.
(2) Emphasis on 21st Century Learning - beginning with 'creativity,' 'critical thinking,' 'communication,' and 'collaboration.'
(3) There is no distinction between curricular/co-curricular learning/content and extra-curricular learning/content. A combination of all is required for a higher level of learning.
(4) Prioritize play-based and experiential learning that promotes overall development over rote learning.
(5) Assessments/examinations/report cards must be converted into a progress report.
The situation is changing, and it is very possible that several local EdTech companies will start to emerge, making India the leading country for obtaining EdTech patents. India is the top geography receiving the most patent submissions, with 272, according to data. India is getting a sizable number of patent applications from other nations with local invention origins, including the USA (125), Korea (13), and Japan (8), in addition to filings with a domestic origin.
In a nutshell, schools in India require assistance in making NEP 2020 easier to comprehend as well as a tool to support their implementation of these requirements at school.
In addition to this, recently, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant at a virtual conference, organized by the Public Affairs Forum of India, expressed his confidence in the Indian EdTech sector. He said, “India can become the EdTech capital of the world with the private sector playing a key role and the public sector acting as a facilitator.”
Of course, this kind of growth in the private sector would need additional support from the Ministry and affordable internet connectivity in remote areas, paired with technology-based infrastructure. The government has already taken initiatives to address all these areas. On the other hand, EdTech firms are expanding their reach by catering to different levels of schools based in different parts of the country.
With the ongoing scenario and consistency of digital adoption in schools and other educational institutes, we can say that this is the time for EdTech firms. And in the coming years, the industry will witness consistent growth with various solutions addressing different segments of the Indian education sector. And therefore, creating more informed, well-versed and skill-based youth, making India a global talent pool.
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