EkStep, an ambitious initiative, is fundamentally altering the educational and skilling landscape in India. By leveraging technology and digital infrastructure, EkStep aims to create a scalable and inclusive ecosystem for education and skilling akin to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the financial sector. Here’s a comprehensive look at EkStep’s contributions and future aspirations:
Foundational Principles and Approach
EkStep’s philosophy hinges on the integration of Samaaj (society), Sarkaar (state), and Bazaar (market), emphasizing a balanced approach where societal needs take precedence. The initiative prioritizes Digital Public Goods (DPGs) and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to ensure technology serves the common good.
Key Initiatives and Innovations
- Sunbird Platform:
- Sunbird is an open-source, modular digital infrastructure recognized as a Digital Public Good.
- It underpins DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing), the world’s largest edtech platform, and iGOT (Integrated Government Online Training), India’s national platform for training government officers and staff.
- DIKSHA:
- DIKSHA is a national platform for school education, developed by NCERT and built on Sunbird.
- Adopted by all Indian states and educational boards, it supports 36 Indian languages.
- The platform has facilitated over 5.5 billion learning sessions and 63 billion learning minutes of content across 20,000 courses.
- QR codes in textbooks link to supplementary digital content, enhancing the learning experience. Over 600 million textbooks contain these QR codes, providing access to more than 3.5 lakh pieces of content.
- DIKSHA has issued 140 million digital learning certificates, training millions of teachers at a fraction of traditional costs.
- iGOT Karmayogi:
- A platform for upskilling civil servants, integrating over three million government employees across various departments.
- Part of Mission Karmayogi, it aims to continuously enhance the capabilities of India’s civil service.
- Sunbird Saral:
- Utilizes AI to digitize physical assessment submissions, capturing over 300 million student assessment sheets with a single click, thus reducing administrative workload and increasing teaching efficiency.
Research and Development in AI
- People+AI Community:
- A collaborative network of researchers, practitioners, startups, corporates, and social impact organizations focused on AI.
- Aims to study AI’s impact on people and discover scalable, affordable AI use-cases for India.
- Think Tanks and Societal Thinking:
- Societal Thinking engages with global change leaders to drive impact at scale, promoting innovative solutions and fostering collaboration.
Future Aspirations: ONEST Network
- ONEST (Open Network for Education and Skilling Transformation) aims to create a UPI-scale model for education and skilling in India.
- This initiative will facilitate seamless access to educational and skilling resources, ensuring broad-based and equitable opportunities for learning and development.
Impact and Vision
EkStep’s work is driven by a deep engagement with diverse stakeholders, from technologists to child psychologists and policy makers to educators. The focus on creating robust digital public goods and infrastructure ensures that technology empowers users and fosters inclusive growth.
By embedding technology deeply within the education and skilling ecosystems, EkStep aims to democratize access to knowledge and skills, ultimately contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development. The initiative’s scalable models and innovative approaches set a benchmark for leveraging digital solutions for societal good.
In conclusion, EkStep represents a visionary approach to education and skilling in India, harnessing technology to create transformative, inclusive, and scalable solutions. The initiative’s commitment to societal impact through digital infrastructure and public goods holds promise for a brighter, more educated future.
