Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
4. The National Education Policy 2020 has emphasized the integration of technology in all levels of learning. Providing the highlights of Digital education, critically analyse whether the digital divide would ensure ‘Equitable and universal access to education’. (250 words)
Reference: The Hindu , Times Now
Why this question:
The National Education Policy (NEP), approved by the Cabinet yesterday, has a new section on digital education to ensure “equitable use of technology”.
Key demand of the question:
One must explain the new features under the Digital education of NEP, 2020. One has to critically analyse whether equitable and universal access to education will be ensured with the digital education. Discuss the challenges and provide the solutions for the same.
Directive:
Critically Analyse – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Talk about the introduction of NEP 2020 and inclusion of digital education section in it. Highlight its importance in the current times of pandemic.
While education will play a critical role in this transformation, technology itself will play an important role in the improvement of educational processes and outcomes; thus, the relationship between technology and education (at all levels) is bi-directional.
Body:
Highlight the features of digital education section under NEP 2020.
Discuss the challenges present in ensuring equitable and universal access to education using digital means.
Provide solutions to overcome the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a balanced way forward to ensure that digital education is used to reach greater number of people and make India emerge as a knowledge economy.
