On using satellite-based networks for capacity building and education for all: A case study of Rajiv Gandhi project for EduSat-supported elementary education

Abstract

One of the serious problems associated with Indian school education has been high dropout rate. The reasons are many and varied but the major constraints are: non-availability of adequate number of competent and trained teachers in most of the schools and separate room for each class. To overcome such problems and increase equitable access to all, it was considered prudent to use capabilities of satellite based teaching-learning. This network was also to be used for capacity building of in-service teachers. So an indigenously built, dedicated satellite for education-educational satellite (EduSat)-was launched on September 20, 2004, which supports one national hub and five regional hubs. This paper discusses the case study of Rajiv Gandhi project for EduSat-supported elementary education (RGPEEE) project for imparting value added education and professional development of in-service teachers. The project was implemented by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). More than 862 schools in four Hindi speaking states chosen on the basis of physical contiguity were networked through 850 ROTs and 12 SITs. In the first phase (pilot), the project focused mainly on Sidhi district, inhabited mainly (90%) by tribal population and one of the most educationally less-developed districts of Madhya Pradesh. Through ten orientation programmes, 868 teachers and functionaries associated with the project were oriented at different levels to familiarize them in imparting instruction through EduSat and their role and responsibility in facilitating child learning. They were also trained in developing content for tele-teaching; development of knowledge repositories as effective and sustainable sources of courseware. Feedback studies undertaken to judge the effectiveness of EduSat reveal that it is being well received and making steady progress towards improvement in attendance and academic achievement of children and creation of better learning- environment in schools. Key words: Information and communication technologies (ICTs), educational satellite (EduSat), Indian national satellite (INSAT), receive only terminals (ROTs), satellite interactive terminals (SITs), education for all/univeralisation of elementary education-Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)