‘The Future Lies In Blended Learning'

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on making India a global hub for education, building digital classrooms during Covid-19 and the new policy to grow into a knowledge superpower.

- MANU BALACHANDRAN

It’s been a challenging period for Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous companies withdrew the job offers they had made to students of the country’s top institutions, including IITs and IIMs. Besides, with the outbreak disrupting the academic year and exams, the ministry has been at the forefront of setting up online classrooms. In an email interview, Pokhriyal, who was previously chief minister of Uttarakhand, talks about the future of education in India. Edited excerpts:

Q What has been the biggest learning from the Covid-19 crisis?

One of the key learnings has been the need to promote and implement online education. We have always believed in the power of the internet to take education to the masses and have come up with several initiatives over the last few years to help more students learn online. With the impact Covid-19 has had, we are doubling our efforts in this direction.

Q What is the HRD ministry doing to ensure delivery of education to students during this period? And will that set a precedent for the future?

With determination and dedication, the current crisis can be turned into an opportunity. We are laying more emphasis on online resources, platforms, bandwidth, and availability of technological solutions, rather than physical spaces. We understand that these facilities are dynamic and will evolve with changing times. According to me, the future lies in ‘blended learning’.