DEMOCRATISING LEARNING

Online education has made learning accessible and inclusive. Government initiatives now offer free courses to millions who need them the most

- NANDITA BORA and APARMITA DAS

India's school education system ranks among the largest globally, encompassing nearly 1.5 million schools, over 9.8 million teachers, and approximately 248 million students spanning pre-primary to higher secondary levels. But foundational learning has been a challenge. The 2023 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) highlights a stark reality: one-fourth of students aged 14-18 struggle to read a Class II-level text in their regional languages. The disparity between affluent and poorer students exacerbates the issue—with their parents thwarted by forbidding private education costs, underprivileged students are marooned in underfunded schools. Online education offers a transformative solution to these structural challenges by democratising access to quality learning resources.

THE EASE OF LIVING