Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan launched NEAT 3.0 on 3 January, which is a one-stop solution to provide the best-developed ed-tech solutions and courses to students of India.
During the occasion, the Minister also launched AICTE prescribed technical books in various regional languages.
The Ministry of Education had announced National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) as a Public-Private partnership model between the Government (through its implementing agency AICTE) and the Education Technology companies across India.
“NEAT will be a game-changer in bridging the digital divide, especially among the economically disadvantaged students and also in fulfilling the knowledge-based requirement of India and the world,” – Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
NEAT 3.0: Onboard Global ed-tech companies & Indian start-ups
NEAT creates a channel for global ed-tech companies and Indian start-ups to build on the digital education bedrock of India. It bridges the gap between ed-tech companies, academic institutions and students with its B2B (Business to Business) and B2C (Business to Consumer) model.
In this process, the AICTE and ed-tech companies work towards creating and offering e-resources at the least possible cost.
Speaking on the occasion, the Education Minister informed that 58 global and Indian start-up ed-tech companies are onboard NEAT and are offering 100 courses & e-resources to improve learning outcomes, develop employable skills and overcome learning loss.
The Minister welcomed all ed-techs to work with a collaborative approach for making education accessible & affordable. But emphasised that all ed-techs must take note that there is no place for monopoly and exploitation in the education system.
Currently, more than 12 lakh socially and economically disadvantaged students have received the benefits of free ed-tech course coupons worth over ₹253 crores under NEAT 3.0.
“India will lead the global economy in the 21st century and will be the most preferred market for trade & economy,” the Minister stated at the launch event.
Breaking the Barrier: Study in your regional language
There is a popular phrase for India, “कोस-कोस पर बदले पानी, चार कोस पर वाणी”, meaning the water changes at every mile, and language at every four miles in India.
India is a diverse country that holds the most vibrant cultures and multiple languages at every regional level. It is only acceptable that modern education in India incorporates learning in these regional languages to provide literacy at the individual level.
On technical books in regional languages, the Education Minister said that our diverse languages are our strength and harnessing them is key to building an innovative society.
With AICTE’s prescribed technical books in regional languages, India will be able to further develop its critical thinking capacity & enable youth to become global citizens.
Artificial Intelligence for customised learning experience
National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) encourages the development of advanced technological solutions in the education sector that aim to provide Artificial Intelligence for a personalized and customized learning experience.
The use of AI for education can possibly lead to better learning outcomes and skill development in niche areas. AICTE, MoE acts as a medium in this process that ensures these solutions are freely available to a large number of socially and economically backward students.
Currently, NEAT has 58 Education Technology Companies with 100 products that help to develop employable skills, capacity building, and bridge learning gaps.
