Bridge learning gaps by making better use of existing resources

Our current ICT infrastructure in schools presents a practical, cost-effective and scalable opportunity to improve outcomes

- AMITABH KANT & MOHIT BAHRI are, respectively, former CEO of Niti Aayog and co-founder, GDi Partners

India's aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047 hinges critically on the strength of its human capital. However, persistent learning gaps in public education—highlighted by assessments like the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) and Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH)—pose headwinds to this vision. In response to these learning gaps, the government introduced the National Education Policy (NEP) in 2020 and the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat Mission) in 2021, and is undertaking many other systemic reforms. The impact of these will unfold in the years to come, once the slow systemic effects of educational reform start to become visible.

The reasons behind learning gaps in public schools are well known and many—ranging from pedagogical methods, rote-based assessment practices and teacher shortages to structural issues in training institutions like District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), among others. Addressing each of these issues demands long-term solutions and sustained efforts, but the key question right now is: Are there potential pathways that can help bridge learning gaps and be implemented quickly, efficiently and within our existing resources?

Technology-led learning could offer a practical way forward, especially since budget allocations for it already exist with the ministry of education. Over the past two decades, the government has invested heavily in establishing computer (ICT) labs in secondary schools, with such facilities sanctioned for over 120,000 schools till date. These labs are primarily intended to help students build basic digital skills. However, given the rapid advancements in tech-led learning solutions, India should use ICT labs for subject learning.