ECONOMYNEXT – Artificial intelligence must augment knowledge, and help to improve an individual’s skills, not replace it or take control, observes Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman and Co-Founder of Lighthouse Communities.
Speaking at a web talk on “The Future of India’s Educational System: Preparing for the Demographic Shift,” Dr Natarajan explains that while learning the fundamentals is important, students must be prepared to go beyond the basics taught in the first ten years of school.
He also adds that implementation of India’s most recent National Education Policy (NEP), launched in 2020, while well thought out and documented, cannot be implemented easily in the rural regions of Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc where, keeping girls in school for instance, is a constant battle.
India’s education system is not broken, he says, citing that twenty-four Fortune 500 companies are headed by Indians. Most of them, nearly 90 per cent of them received their education in India.
Yet, there is room for improvement, especially when it comes to including those hailing from lower income levels, the disadvantaged classes, and the disabled. He adds that introducing technology will allow for more inclusion and a better system.
While getting admission to degree-awarding colleges is not difficult, the problem is more about motivating students to pick a course of study that aligns with what they really want to do, he opines.
He notes that the new NEP holds Board exams twice a year, which encourages students to sit the exam when ready for it. That, he sees as a positive move.
Dr Natarajan was joined by Meera Shenoy, CEO of Youth4Jobs, Avi Krish Bedi, Co-Founder of Application Edge and Akansha Bisoyi a Post-Doc Researcher at the Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
The web talk organised by the Friedric Naumann Foundation for Freedom South Asia on January 24 th was moderated by Rohan Joshi, CEO of the Ahvaan Trust.
Avi Krish Bedi says India is fascinated with obtaining credentials. Lately, the trend has moved towards short-term course certifications. Though the more important aspect is how such courses are taught, and skills applied.
How one displays competence. Bedi points out that it is necessary to move away from ‘producing assembly line workers.’
Until India improves its infrastructure, which would allow for quality higher education, students will continue to seek educational opportunities overseas, he observes.
However, Bedi is not opposed to overseas education pointing out that it helps broaden perspectives.
Research portals and networking are essential in broadening knowledge, advises Akansha Bisoyi.
She says students must not shy away from connecting with representatives of their educational institutions to access such tools and pursue collaborations with similar entities.
AI literacy and digital citizenship, she says, must be applied to all levels of education.
The National Education Policy and the Right to Education Act place emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, and India is leveraging the digital platform to bridge the rural-urban divide in education.
She advises a cautious approach, noting that AI must be used responsibly.
It must align with social values and there must be guidelines on how to engage with the online system positively.
Meanwhile, Meera Shenoy explains that AI and the availability of assisted devices such as SmartCanes are transforming the lives of the disabled. ‘AI and technology are changing the grassroots model.’
Once visually impaired girls, who did not know English were introduced to ChatGPT, there was a noticeable change, Shenoy says, adding that the girls gained confidence to correspond via email, and even sign up for higher education.
A customer survey of those served by speech-impaired cashiers had found, they were preferred over cashiers who could speak, she adds.
She points out that the challenge is to educate and sensitize potential employers, adding that such ventures would open up nearly 50,000 jobs for the disabled.
It also means creating industry job profiles that match the various disabilities.
Youth4Jobs runs India’s first AI-powered platform, Swarajability, which connects the differently abled to inclusive job opportunities.
There are also issues such as ensuring the jobs are easily accessible and are in close proximity to their homes, says Shenoy, adding that attitudinal change, especially in rural societies.
Educating disadvantaged communities about government entitlements is also important.
Inclusive education requires an open mind, and India would benefit by introducing best practices from other countries, Shenoy says, adding ‘When you design for inclusion, you design for all.” (Colombo/Jan27/2025)