EdTech in India: An overview

RAJAT THAKUR_ CONTENT WRITER

Abstract

Education in India has prevailed for many reasons. From being the land of the Gurukul
system origin to be the education system that focuses on mass production of engineers,
India’s education system has gone through all ups and downs. This write-up identifies
EdTech, its significance, and its ecosystem in India. Top EdTech companies in India and
suggestions for comprehensive EdTech policy.

Introduction

● Educational Technology is the combined use of computer hardware and software

along with educational theory.
● EdTech often refers to industries or companies that create innovations in educational
technology.

Significance of EdTech in India

● In India, the teacher-to-student ratio stays on the unhealthy side. Students rarely get
the opportunity of keen individual attention from their teachers to clarify doubts on a
personal basis. EdTech offers a comprehensive solution for this problem and much
more.
● The One-size-fits model theory does not work anymore. We have to ensure the
proper utilization of technology in every aspect of education. Each subject, course,
and institution requires a personalized way of learning.
● Students appearing for professional and competitive exams have to complete
internships and studies parallelly. Often classrooms timings are not aligned with the
ongoing work schedule of students.
● On-demand learning turns the table in favor of the students by enabling them to
access courses and study material on-demand according to their convenience.
● The new generation of students is learning courses ‘visually’ more than they are
reading about it.
● Video courses rich in lectures, multimedia graphics, and interactive elements make
learning much more interactive.
● A single professor can handle utmost a batch of 100 students inside a classroom
hall. The need for physical space and classrooms for teachers and students to
 assemble are gone. Video course streaming enables students to access courses at
any time, any place, and through the desired medium of technology.

EdTech ecosystem in India

● The Indian EdTech ecosystem has a lot of potential for innovating new ways in
educational technology. With over 4,500 start-ups hold a current valuation of around
$700 million.
● The market is ready for exponential growth, estimating an astonishing project market
size of $30 billion in the next ten years.
● For example:
○ The Hamara Vidhyalaya in the Namsil district of Arunachal Pradesh is
adopting tech-based performance assessments.
○ Samarth in Gujrat is providing online professional development of lakhs of
teachers.
○ Himachal Pradesh’s Har Ghar Pathshala scheme facilitates digital education
for children with special needs in remote and rural areas.

Top EdTech companies in India

1. Byju’s
2. Henry Harvin Education
3. Pesto
4. Vedantu
5. White hat education
6. Unacademy
7. Great learning

Conclusion

Technology holds promise and potential in enabling innovations and personalizations of

education and maximizing educational productivity by improving the growth rate of learnings,
reducing the cost of material online, and service delivery at scale.

Recommendations

A comprehensive Educational technology policy architecture must focus on four key

elements:
● Providing access to learning
● Enabling process of teaching, learn, and evaluation
● Provide teacher training and continuous professional development