Are Edtech startups Helping Students Break One-size-fits-all Approach And Offer Quality Learning?

Edtech startups Devvaki Aggarwal: A lot of people dream of starting something of their own, an idea, a plan, a calling! I had one too, and it started in 2015. This is my story...

The world of education I grew up in was textbooks, rote learning, and mugging up information with one clear goal- be among the first 10 in a class of 40. Imagine at a young age, being pressurised to achieve a target someone else set for you. This doesn’t sound fun, does it? I didn’t enjoy learning, didn’t look forward to it and really hoped the education system would change. My perception of the education system remained unchanged until I went to New York and started working for an EdTech company. That’s when I had this epiphany- why should children in India not be exposed to this interesting, fun and new-age of learning?

I continued to work in EdTech and grow my experience, speak to people across the globe at different conferences, study the market and then finally moved back to India in 2018. In 2019 of March- we all know what happened- the pandemic. Something that changed my life forever! Sitting at home doing nothing, wondering when things will get better and when we’ll be able to leave or homes made me step up my start up instrucko. By then I had a fair idea of what I wanted to do. I started working on this idea, and something that really struck me was language, communication, and creative thinking skills, which I was only introduced to during my SAT and GMAT exams. These skills entailed- language learning through storytelling, which would help children, sharpen their critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and life skills.

Even in the year 2021, most children in India are exposed to one way of learning- the rote methodology. The current classroom model isn’t sufficient. It promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. The model of a single teacher for the entire class of 15-30, turns a blind eye to the individuality of learners and their development. The teacher teaches at the same pace and uses the same teaching methods for every class. Thus, learners who conform to the pace and methods of the students flourish, while those who require more attention in a certain aspect or use a different studying strategy are unable to cope. Often students are led to believe that they are not proficient in a certain subject whereas the real issue is in the disparity between the teaching and learning pace and methodology. This especially exists in tier II and III cities and these results in incomplete development of children. Children don’t have access to the best facilities, teachers and learning methodology. In 2017, India saw an increase in student enrolment from 32.3 million in 2013-14 to 36.6, but a decline in the number of teachers from 13, 67,535 to 12, and 84,755 in the same period (Figures taken from MHRD’s official report). This brings the student-teacher ratio to 24:1, meaning that there is only one teacher available for 24 students in the country. The MHRD report reads, “A low student-teacher ratio indicates the burden on a single teacher of teaching multiple students as well as the lack of time that each student gets. Apart from this simplistic effect…. overburdened teachers are also unable to pursue any research or encourage their students to do so.”

The current classroom model isn’t sufficient. It promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to learning. The model of a single teacher for the entire class of 15-30, turns a blind eye to the individuality of learners and their development.

With a wide variety of topics to cover and the responsibility to manage 24 students at once, it is not possible for teachers to cater to the learning needs of every learner. Consequently, the students who already excel at the subject flourish further, while all the others suffer neglect. This environment is not conducive to a culture of reasoning and questioning, hence students are encouraged to resort to rote-learning of the subjects and eventual regurgitation in the examinations.

This is why EdTech plays a vital role in making global content and certified teachers available to students anytime and anywhere at affordable prices. Children of small groups are put in a class and also have the option of choosing a one to one class. They are given personal attention and therefore reap the benefits of a tailor-made lesson. The online world of education has given children access to international content that is being taught in leading schools and universities across the globe. Children can now get certified, learn at their own pace and have a personalized class to develop their skillset and help them upskill. This results in quick changes, and growth in the child. Parents can define and choose learning objectives that are measurable and more often than not easily accomplished.

Devvaki Aggarwal is the CEO & Co-Founder, instrucko. The views expressed are the author's own and not that of SheThePeople.