Digital India: HRD Minister Smriti Irani launches mobile apps, web-based platforms

In line with the Modi government's Digital India initiative, the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry on 7 November launched a number of mobile apps and web-based platforms allowing students to access study material online, and parents to keep a track of the performance and attendance of their children.

Elaborating about the initiatives, HRD Minister Smriti Irani said through mobile apps and website 'e-pathshala' students, parents and teachers can access study material online.

Another initiative for CBSE schools 'Saransh', which was launched at an event at Vigyan Bhawan here, will help parents to compare subject-wise learning outcome of their children, with others at district, state and national levels.

"We are trying to leverage technology not only to bring more transparency in school education system but also to create new learning opportunities for the children," Irani told reporters while speaking about the initiatives.

She said her ministry, along with some state governments, was working to lessen the burden of exams on students and an announcement to this effect may be made in the coming year.

Irani also complimented state ministers, saying because of their cooperation the dream to have toilets for girls in all schools has been realised.

Another digital platform 'Shala Siddhi', also unveiled on Saturday, aims to improve schools. The HRD Ministry has taken another initiative 'Shaladarpan', which was launched earlier in Kendriya Vidyalayas, in which parents will be kept informed about the child's presence, mark-sheets and time table etc.

Speaking at the event, Irani said a committee had been constituted to look at the Mid-Day Meal Scheme framework from the point of view of nutrition.

The HRD Ministry, she said, plans to urge states that in this nutrition framework, they should prepare their own menus for their students.

Lauding work done by individuals to disseminate education among masses, Irani said her ministry now provides a window 'I share for India', in which digital initiatives aiming to spread learning can be shared.

She, however, added that these ventures should not be used for commercial gain.

Irani also honoured various state education ministers present at the event and said because of their cooperation the 'Swacch Vidyalaya' dream had been achieved and all government schools have toilets for girl school. Speaking at edNEXT, - National Conference on ICT in School Education here, Irani complimented efforts put in by all the state education ministers in achieving hundred per cent result in constructing separate toilet for boys and girls in schools during a period of one year.

Irani also appreciated efforts made by individuals in the field of spreading education and complimented an Alwar based person Imran, who had developed 40 such apps.

The event also showcased other ICT initiatives including the IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system to monitor the daily implementation of Mid Day Meal scheme etc.

Giving details of 'e-Pathshala', a Ministry statement, said it was a web portal which hosts educational resources for students, teachers, parents, researchers and educators.

It is available through especially developed mobile app interface on Android, IOS and windows platforms for wider access and contains textbooks and other e-books as E-Pub 3.0 and Flipbooks in English, Hindi and Urdu.

'Shaala Siddhi', it said, is a comprehensive instrument for school evaluation which enables the schools to evaluate their performance in more focused and strategic manner to facilitate them to make professional judgment for continuous improvement.

The initiative has already been successfully piloted in four districts of Tamil Nadu.

'Saransh', it added, is a tool which allows the schools to identify areas of improvement in students, teachers and curriculum to facilitate and implement change. The platform is presently available for classes 9th to 12th and provides a comprehensive overview of standard 10th performance since 2007 and standard 12th performance since 2009 till the current academic session.

Presently, results of CBSE are available on this portal and app, the statement added.

-PTI