Stakeholders’ perception: E-Learning initiatives in school education of Rajasthan state in the course of COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased adoption of e-learning in academic institutions, leading to the adoption of digital learning initiatives in Rajasthan. Projects-like SMILE, ‘Shikshadarshan - Educational T-DD Rajasthan’, ‘Shikshavani - Education via Radio’, ‘Hawamahal- Joyful Saturday program’, and ‘YouTube Rajiv Gandhi Career Portal’ were implemented. This study aimed to understand stakeholders’ perceptions of e-learning initiatives in Rajasthan and the global transformation of the education system. A descriptive survey conducted on 308 stakeholders from five government schools in Dungarpur district. The study reveals that 89% of students in Rajasthan state use smartphones for online classes, using WhatsApp video links, e-Raksha apps, YouTube, and open learning sources like Google. However, students often need help with language problems in content provided through e-learning initiatives, possibly due to the absence of their local language. Teachers are aware of e-learning initiatives but must be fully aware of them. Many teachers believe digital teaching-learning approaches make teaching plans and assessments more complex than face-to-face teaching. Parents and community members agree that their children can adopt e-learning comfortably, but 63% are unsatisfied with e-learning during COVID-19. Most participants agree that face-to-face teaching is better than e-learning and that the focus should be on face-to-face learning. The government should consider local languages for online videos and live programs. The department should include training programs for online learning resources in post-service education and teacher training to implement effective online education.