CBSE, ISC Board Exams Cancelled because of COVID19, Is this a Watershed Moment for technology-based education platforms?

 On the 1st of June, 2021, The Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi announced, that class 10th and 12th exams, stand cancelled, owing to the current Covid19 pandemic. The School Education Department Principal Secretary headed a committee that is most likely to pass all students as per the Right to Education Act. Marks will be given based on “recommendation”, Am not sure what that exactly means? Recommendation.

All Passed

One of my first coaching classes (to score well in school, not competitive exams) was with Mr Hari. Om. Biswas Sir, from the Marshall School, there were a couple of private teachers, as well, but that not consequential. There used to be a huge row and batches in our time. It was the pre-internet era, no online or zoom classes.  My schooling happened in Dehra Dun, a small town in the northern part of India, and the glory (pun-nish) days, where we had numbers to score and not grades. Grades were parked for SUPW, Practicals, Sports and Discipline. Either there were private teachers or Tuitions. That’s it.

Will the virtual be the new real?

My question is, what happens to bright students who genuinely studied, the whole year and not staring on grade. A passing grade. Wouldn't they feel, let down? Well, the times are such. Would we be giving our exams if there is a war outside? No. We are literally having a World War, except there are no bombs and blood and gore. It’s a silent war.  The airlines, schools, colleges, airports, hotels and restaurants, shipping and transport is closed, indefinitely. I don’t think, this has happened in the history of modern mankind. Unprecedented, I’d say. Each one of us is affected, in some ways or the other. We do not know, how not interacting with students and teachers in real is affecting students mentally, psychologically and emotionally. Not every student have laptops or desktops? Some of them use a smartphone, dumb phones, and other qwerty phones. Not all parents can afford to buy a laptop and they are facing salary cuts as well. Thanks to Covid. Recently, a 5-year-old Kashmiri girl - Mahiruh Irfan, made an emotional appeal to PM Modi to cut down online classes, as it's too much for her. She recently made a video on Instagram, and her video went viral. 

Go Go Digital – The Winner takes it all

Today, 8th June, the 10-year-old BYJU’S (Think & Learn Private Limited) completed its $940 Million Cash and stock billion formally acquires of a 33-year-old Blackstone backed brand Brick and Mortar - Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL). The CCI has approved the acquisition today, dated 8th June under Section 31(1) of the Competition Act, 2002, today. PIB reported.  The test prep market is dominated by students engineering, medical science, and civil service exams, recently even Arts and commerce students can apply for engineering, a revolution of sorts.  

So, what does it mean? What does it really mean for, BYJU’s, the most valuable education technology company globally with a market valuation is $13 billion (in 2021)? It’s owned by Bengaluru couple Byju Raveendran and Divya Gokulnath. What happens to their growth model? What happens to the children, who aren’t really ready yet? 

So, exactly why BYJU’s placed so much money to acquire Akash, which was launched in 1988 by Mr J.C Chaudhary? Let’s extrapolate some gaps. 

1. To enter the test preparation space

2. Build modern education capabilities

3. To inspire and introduce personalized learning programs

4. To take huge advantage of low education quality teaching at government and mofussil towns.

5. Riding on fresh cash and disposable income (hoping the pandemic to end that dry run soon)

6. To give an early competition to Amazon Digital Education (they are coming up big time and       investing in content).

7. To replicate omnichannel e-commerce business model in edtech as well

8. To consolidate the digitize the hyperlocal coaching market

Covid19 Pandemic – A lasting Effect?

We all have learnt sad stories this year and the last, so many people have lost their loved ones, friends and families due to Covid. I am not sure, how well the people affected will recuperate from the losses. Yes, it is a war, and we all have to deal with it. Learn to adjust. Compromise, taking care of things, we had taken for granted. The sudden change in the mode of education is overwhelming especially when schools and colleges are closed (for a year) and social distancing is the biggest keyword, we have read in the last 1 year. Like every other industry, big or small, has been impacted by Covid19. To what extent, education will be affected and the ongoing relationship between a student and a teacher? Here the challenge books Vs video, physical classes Vs online classes, real classroom Vs Clubhouse or Zoom Classrooms, real interactions Vs virtual talks. With the schools and colleges still, closed as I write, what happens to the traditional brick and mortar schools and coaching classes, prepping up for the tests? Will it morph into a digital or online identity? What happens, to pen and paper, chalk and blackboards? What happens to practical, which cannot be done online? After a week of PM Modi’s virtual announcement, in Cooch Behar, West Bengal a class 10th student Barnali Burman committed suicide. The bright girl has lost hope that she will top her matriculation exams this year. I hope we will be able to raise some questions and practical answers to be given. 

Pic Source - Getty Image