Inaccessibility to quality education and tutorial services is a cause for concern, especially to those in rural areas. Due to inaccessibility to good education, talented rural youth find it difficult to be at par with their peers in cities. Despite faring well in the PUC examination, rural candidates under perform in the Common Entrance Test (CET) because they do not have access to preparatory coaching, which their counterparts in urban areas enjoy.

Their woes, however, seem to have been put to an end, at least in Karnataka, as 750 Nemmadi centers (common service centers) operating in 28 districts, 177 taluks and 759 Hoblis in the state will rollout preparatory programs for CET candidates in a virtual classroom set up.

This service is a part of the Maximiser series for Karnataka CET, wherein the students of Class XI and XII will be prepared for the examination. The initiative for rolling out educational services has been taken up by a consortium which comprises Comat Technologies, Hughes Communications India, and 3i Infotech.

Virtual Classroom: The concept of Interactive Onsite Learning is adopted to conduct classes. It is a virtual classroom set up where the Nemmadi centers are equipped with computers, VSAT, and a microphone.

"It works on one to many principle, wherein a trainer sitting in a studio anywhere in the country can train a large number of students," explains Vaibhav Magow, director, Marketing, HughesNet Fusion.

Dual Interactivity: The system allows dual interactivity, wherein both the trainer and the student see each other through live video. The software powered with interactive tools allow the student to ask questions by clicking on an icon, raise a hand, available on the screen and immediately the trainer can address the same.

Getting the Best Teacher: One of the greatest advantages of the system is the availability of the best teacher. According to Ravi Rangan, CEO, Comat Technologies, "The system enables them to choose the best teacher to train students. In traditional practice, it is difficult to get a good trainer to move to remote locations."

Technology Ensures Consistency: In the traditional system, the process followed is: the master trainer trains the local trainer, who in turn teaches students. When such a process is followed, some information will be lost, thus leading to knowledge gap.

The technology ensures consistent training to students spread over different places, without any loss of information in between.

Monitoring Made Easier: The software has developed tools, which make monitoring of students easier. According to Magow: "Lecturers, most of the times, rely on facial communication to gauge whether students have understood the concept or not. But, as the expressions could be superficial, the trainer is unable to know whether the student has really understood a concept or not."

However, the IOL system has developed tools wherein the monitoring of even 200 students at a time is made simpler.

Technology Made Simpler: According to Vaibhav, "Hughes has made available round the clock help desk that addresses technical problems if they arise."

It is a complete service package, and the tools are designed in such a way that students find it much easier to use. In addition, these are cost effective too.

Practice Tests: Online practice tests are made available to students to ensure constant monitoring of progress the student has made. Since all students will answer the practice tests, it helps the individual in assessing his performance in the test and rating his performance against other students across the country. The assessment will also help the trainer to know the performance of the students.

Scope for Improvement: According to Shashi K Patil, COO, Comat Technologies, "In the course of time, key learning from services offered will be incorporated, thus making constant improvements."

"Learnability differs from region to region and as we carry on, the training will introduce constant improvements. Every market is different and has different lessons to teach us," Patil adds.

Ensuring Attendance: These centers will also have facilitators who ensure that the available infrastructure is fully functional, so that the classes can be conducted smoothly. They also track whether students are attending the class or not and if not, the reasons behind the absence.

Approaching Institutions: Institutes are being approached to encourage students to enroll in the course. People who visit Nemmadi centers for accessing other services are also being told about the availability of the educational service.

Waiver of Fees: Hughes and Comat are also aiming to give scholarships to deserving students. The scholarships will be awarded in the form of wavering the course fee.

In addition to tutorial services, refined English courses will also be made available in Nemmadi centers The imparting of educational services will thus add a new dimension to the growth story and also help propel inclusive growth in the right spirit.

H Chethana Gadiyar
chethanag@cybermedia.co.in

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