Tuesday, October 31, 2006

India's First Education Portal...at Last!!!

Too late or too early -- its best left for debate. The Indian government has finally got an educational portal "Sakshat" in shape. The portal was launched by President Abdul Kalam on Monday.

Being a researcher certain issues concern me. Its news to me that the content for the portal is being developed by UGC, AICTE, IGNOU, NCERT, KVS, NVS, CBSE, IITs and IISc. While names like IITs, IISc and UGC evoke respect, others such as IGNOU are better ignored. Consider the facts. For several years now the university has not been able to update its distance learning course material for subjects such as Journalism. And this is not due to lack of will; rather the infighting for supremacy between hoardes of self-proclaimed intellectuals who incessantly hover around flaunting their political reach and prowess.

Back in the year 2000, as a researcher for DD-GyanDarshan, I experienced the intellectual potential and capability of IGNOU. I was a researcher who already knew his findings before conducting the research. It was then that I predicted an early death for DD-GyanDarshan. And I was correct. The educational channel today moves in a crippling pace inviting very little attention. Perhaps the only audience left for it are the ones who create the programs. Nevertheless the channel serves as a potential money-vending medium for a sizeable chunk of so-called TV professionals who would not be bought even free by any of these private channels. Today, the news of the innauguration of the educational portal evokes concern because I am worried whether it is another medium poised for an early death?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's a very bad scenario...I agree with you when you say that organizations such as IGNOU rattles with incompetent individuals. Orgs like IGNOU have become a place where the rich and the influential pocket rich cash while generating junk that I would like to term as "intellectual garbage". Ahoy India!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the updates.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm so the government has more people to placate now. I think the contracts for the job for this portal will go to a select few....:-) and the writings are all going to be trash....

Anonymous said...

You are dead right. This portal if at all it is updated will be to provide employment to otherwise unemployable and incomprehensible self-styled academics. It's a tragedy that funding can't be found for primary schools -- a state-of-the art primary for 300 students costs a mere Rs. 2 crore to build -- public money is being wasted on Gyan Darshan and such portals. I'm glad you spoke up

surabhi said...

You have pointed out a problem exisiting ..what u have to say of the solution ??

surabhi said...

You have pointed out a problem exisiting ..what u have to say of the solution ??