Does Open Content really reach out to rural learners?
Fragment of a discussion from Talk:Wikieducator tutorial/Communication and Interaction/Discussion
- Katherine, I agree "A hole on the wall" is a commendable initiative. But, I feel equipping Rural parts not only in India but across the globe, with usable Information Infrastructure, is not taken up at needed pace. Ministry of HRD, GoI has initiated National Mission on Education through ICT (NME-ICT) Scheme to have Open Content available on Sakshat Portal. In five years, we may have OERs ready, but accessibility remains a big quesion?
The wheels of the Government move very slowly, but changes are perceptible. A few years ago, computers were unheard of. Mobile phones are a revolution in India and many people have a phone. The day will not be far when it will really be possible to reach out to rural learners with ICT. There are problems of shortage of electricity etc. but the fruits of development are not only for the urban elite. We will create another caste system if we are able to reach only to the urban elite. There are urban masses who have migrated from the rural areas across India. They can be reached too. The potential is there, but the question remains how to harness it. (Kalpana Gupte 17:40, 28 April 2010 (UTC))
Kalpanagupte (talk)
