SWAYAM Digital Learning Portal: 50,000 New Learners Since Lockdown, says MHRD

The Ministry of Human Resource and Development, India, released a new statement saying that the Centre's Digital Learning Portal, SWAYAM, has seen 50,000 new registrations since the lockdown was announced. The MHRD has been promoting digital and e-learning methods to help the students stay engaged in the lockdown period which was announced by PM, Narendra Modi in an effort to contain the spread of the Coronavirus.

The courses offered on the SWAYAM learning platform are integrated with conventional teaching. The courses completed on the digital platform can account for 20% of the credit assigned to a course. Students can access courses on SWAYAM level-wise, viz. Secondary, Senior Secondary levels as well as stream-wise - Arts, Science, Engineering, etc. The courses offered on the platform have been prepared by more than 1000 faculty members and teachers chosen from across the country.

The National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) is the coordinator for the Engineering courses while non-technical post graduate education is co0rdinated by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), on the other hand, ensures quality content for school education and management content quality is overseen by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

Learners willing to take up courses delivered through SWAYAM can avail the same free of cost. However, those willing to obtain a certificate from SWAYAM are required to register for the final proctored exams by paying the requisite fee and attend the examination in-person at the designated centres on the dates specified.

Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' also tweeted that the Ministry will soon launch SWAYAM Prabha DTH channels for the school students. The channel(s) will be full of school education content aligned with students’ ongoing syllabus. He also added that daily time-slots of 4 hours has been approved on Swayam Prabha DTH channels for selected states. The Minister said that this has been done to ensure that students stay connected with their studies even when they are away from school due to COVID-19 outbreak.