Government Recognition of Virtual Schools in India
Education
10-12
Virtual schooling in India has grown much more secure as online schools are finally being recognized by the government. The recent development has come in with announcements by the Rajasthan and Delhi governments to recognise the multiplicity of online schooling. Read on to find out more about the government's recognition of virtual schools in India.
Online Schooling in India
Online learning first started gaining traction in India with increased Internet usage towards the beginning of the 2000s. However, online learning then was just looked at as a resource to acquire more information on courses that are already taught in the classroom. Gradually, several e-learning platforms emerged in the 2010s that allowed access to courses in addition to whatever is taught in traditional schools and colleges. With the emergence of such platforms, open online courses gained popularity as they gave people a chance to pursue their interests from anywhere in the world, sitting right on their couches.
Virtual schools gained popularity in India especially owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. As people were confined to their houses, K-12 online schools helped to gain a hold on the learning process that had been put on hold due to the pandemic wreaking havoc. Even the government has launched initiatives like SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) to provide adequate study materials and resources to anyone who is willing to learn, anywhere from around the country.
Given the many advantages of online schools, parents are now more willing to get their child admitted to one of the promising virtual schools rather than sticking by the traditional method of schooling. The Delhi and Rajasthan governments’ decision to recognise virtual schools in India thus comes as a crucial decision for all such parents who are looking to opt for homeschooling.
Also Read | 7+ Advantages of Online School that You Cannot Miss Out!
Government Recognition of Virtual Schools in India
The beginning of 2024 has brought in good news for people associated with online learning in India. The governments in Delhi and Rajasthan have acknowledged the soaring growth of virtual schools in India by bestowing them with some much-needed recognition. The two state governments have green-signalled the ascent of virtual schooling in India by such momentous announcements.
Here is a more detailed look at what the Delhi and Rajasthan governments have decided.
Virtual Schools in Delhi
The state CM, Arvind Kejriwal, recently launched Delhi’s first government-run virtual school- Delhi Model Virtual School. Affiliated with the Delhi Board of School Education, students of this virtual school will follow the curriculum followed by DBSE schools in Delhi, being in line in terms of examinations as well.
Kejriwal also pointed out how this decision will make education accessible for students who are not able to physically attend classes for some reason or other. He further mentioned that this move will also help students prepare for NEET and other competitive exams via recorded lectures and live classes.
Developed by Google and School Net India, Kejriwal’s government-recognized learning platform has already hired special educators for this initiative. The platform will be login-enabled for students via unique IDs and passwords, while also providing them access to facilities like a digital library and recorded lectures.
Virtual Schools in Rajasthan
In contrast to the government-aided virtual schooling in Delhi, the Rajasthan government is looking to expand the reach of private schools by bringing in online schools under their realm. According to details shared by government officials, Ed-tech companies like Unacademy and Byjus will now be tied up with non-governmental schools in Rajasthan.
The new regulation ordains that virtual schools in Rajasthan will now operate under the Board of Secondary Education, Rajasthan. The schools can also seek to get affiliated with other government-recognised boards such as CBSE but will have to obtain an NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the government first.
Furthermore, an MoU needs to be signed between the schools and the ed-tech platforms that allow the use of the school infrastructure by these platforms to aid in the learning process. This MoU will be viable for a minimum of 4 years and is to be addressed as ‘Virtual Integration Partnership (VIP)’.
Under this new regulation, links for online classes will be shared with a maximum of 45 students only. Live classes will be held by teachers as recorded lectures are permissible only for the purpose of revision.
This initiative of the Rajasthan government comes as a crucial step in making education accessible to all. Talking about this, Education Minister BD Kalla remarked, “The scheme aims to take quality education to rural parts of Rajasthan.”
What does this imply for Virtual Schooling in India?
The government’s acknowledgement of virtual schooling in India in the form of this recognition is a huge nod to the plausibility of virtual schools in the future. Needless to say, virtual schooling has seen a great surge owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, so much so that the online education industry in India is currently valued at more than $1 billion.
People tend to opt for online schooling as it offers several benefits. There’s flexibility and the option to study from anywhere and at any time. Plus, it is also easier for online schools to follow NEP 2020 as compared to traditional schools where new provisions often take a long time to be properly followed.
Read More | Evolution and Advantages of Virtual Schools
In India, Cyboard has emerged as a trusted name when it comes to online schooling. Established in 2021, Cyboard is an IAO-affiliated 100% online school that can be accessed by students from anywhere. They do not have to physically attend school to learn from the best-trained educators, accessing curriculums especially curated for them.
Cyboard boasts of delivering a superior learning experience, holding quality education in high esteem. A “school without walls”, Cyboard follows the curriculum guidelines issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). With its vision of ‘No Child Left Behind,’ Cyboard understands that each child has an individual learning pace and pattern and follows adequate measures to address this individuality.
In order to give parents a better hold over their child’s experience, Cyboard makes use of advanced analytics that gives them the accessibility to keep track of their kids’ progress and performance. The advanced analytics at Cyboard also lets parents stay updated regarding their child’s developments, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
Wondering if your child will miss out on opportunities for holistic development if admitted to Cyboard? Well, that’s not something to worry about! Cyboard prioritizes holistic development, laying great importance on socio-emotional well-being. The school also takes care of extra-curriculars by involving students in several activities such as dance, arts and crafts, theatre and physical education programs.
Schools such as Cyboard are sure to finally get the acknowledgement they deserve because of the groundbreaking announcements by the Delhi and Rajasthan governments. As these governmental bodies have finally decided to support virtual schools, parents will no longer need to think twice before considering getting their child admitted to a virtual school.
