Digital learning now a boon for poor girls

New Delhi: For 15-year-old Budhma, passing the tenth grade with 68 per cent was a big achievement as the environment at her home was not very conducive for studies. This could be possible as she enrolled at a digital learning centre near her home in 2015 to complete her studies. “I have gained a lot of self-confidence by coming to the digital learning centre. I no longer hesitate to ask questions to my teachers. After my academic support, I have enrolled in other modules and help other younger children in our community in their studies,” she said.

Located in the resettlement colonies, these centres have come to the rescue of thousands of girls like her who drop out of the school due to various reasons, including mobility and safety. The programme initiated by an NGO, Plan India, has been initiated to help underprivileged kids perform well in their studies and prevent girls from dropping out of schools. Under the initiative, girls can learn in the comfort of their own backyard without having to worry for their safety and travel long distances to attend classes. Under the project, 15,000 underprivileged girls are attending classes at their 15 centres.

“Under the programme, adolescent girls aged between 15-25 years are being educated using Information and communications technology on subjects like English, math, science for Classes 9 and 10, apart from human rights, gender, personality development, reproductive health and pre-vocational career counselling.

“Each of the 15 centres has a facilitator, an educator who helps manage the large digital board through which a teacher interacts simultaneously with children in all the centres,” an official said. 

Bhagyashri Dengle, executive director, Plan India, said, “Plan India has been implementing programs that engage, equip and enable girls of all ages to acquire adequate skills and knowledge to succeed in life. This innovative partnership will help young women from our communities access best in class learning opportunities within their own communities.” The organisation is making the programme more popular by conducting enrolment drives.