Vice President Calls For Bridging Digital Divide To Achieve Universal And Equitable Education

New Delhi: Vice President M Vankaiah Naidu while releasing a book via video conferencing on Tuesday, talked about bridging the digital divide to achieve universal primary education and ensure equitable secondary and higher education for students.

In the backdrop of several students being unable to attend online classes during the lockdown due to COVID-19, he stressed on the need to make technology accessible and affordable for all. He said education had become highly dependent on the internet and technology during COVID-19.

“Many children need hand-holding to shift from offline to online and require proper training to pursue education through online modes,” Hindustan Times quoted him as saying. He further added that several parents in India still cannot afford digital devices.

The government tried to bring education home for those who do not have access to high-speed internet or digital devices by introducing designated TV channels for different classes. Online education had become difficult for even those who had the required devices but on whom more than one student relied.

Speaking on bridging the digital divide, Naidu urged private sectors, especially education technology firms to introduce products at affordable prices that would suit the need of the learners. “This is your time to make a momentous contribution to nation-building and to secure a bright future for all our children,” he said.

Naidu quoted PM Narendra Modi by saying, “online should be the mainline so that there is no need for any line”.

Due to the pandemic, schools and private institutions have been facing several difficulties forcing them to get used to cloud computing for imparting education.