Vice President Venkaiah Naidu calls for bridging digital divide for universal education

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday called for bridging the digital divide to achieve universal primary education and ensure equitable secondary and higher education for students.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday called for bridging the digital divide to achieve universal primary education and ensure equitable secondary and higher education for students.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu (file)

His remarks come in the backdrop of several students facing problems attending online classes. Schools across the country are shut as per guidelines issued by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Releasing a book through video conference, Naidu stressed on the need to make technology accessible and affordable, and pointed out that there were many children who did not have access to digital devices. “We will have to address the issue of this wide gap,” he said according to a statement. The vice president pointed out that a large number of students have been impacted due to the lockdown as they found it hard to study online. Many of them need hand holding to shift from offline to online and require proper training to pursue education through online modes, Naidu said, adding that several parents in India still cannot afford digital devices. Bridging the digital divide is too big and complex for the government alone to accomplish, Naidu said urging the private sector, especially educational technology firms, to bring products at affordable prices as per the needs of learners. “This is your time to make a momentous contribution to nation building and to securing a bright future for all our children,” he said.