Accessibility and Inclusive Public Policy Initiatives of Union Ministry of Education for Digital Higher Education in India

Abstract

Digital Education is the innovative use of digital tools and technologies during teaching and learning, and is often referred to as Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) or e-Learning. It is an evolving area which is primarily concerned with the teaching learning process using digital medium. M. Bakia says that internet based education is referred to by multiple terms including online learning, e-learning, cyber learning and web based learning. It is a true that digital or online education cannot replace the existing classroom learning. But it has some advantages for effectively utilization of internet in the higher education. It has a superior potential to enrich learners current knowledge, skills, and abilities. The question is whether the digital higher education is accessible and inclusive for the learners in a vast populated, diverse and plural India. In order to address these issues, the union Ministry of Education initiated through its various major public policies such as Swayam, Swayam Prabha, National Digital Library, e-PG Pathshala, e-ShodhSindhu, e-Yantra, Virtual Labs and National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) in order to make the digital higher education system is more accessible and more inclusive for all types of the learners in India.