There can’t be two opinions about it. New age information communication technologies (ICT) need to be intensively utilised if acceptable quality, internationally benchmarked education is to be delivered to the world’s largest child and youth population, which resides in contemporary India (550 million citizens are below 24 years of age).
Fortunately 21st century India is blessed with well-developed IT (information technology) and ITES (information technology enabled services) companies, which even if they don’t merit high marks for invention and originality, have demonstrated high capability and competence in applying and customising ICT to user needs and requirements. And it’s a sign of the awakening of the hitherto dormant and suppressed entrepreneurial spirit of Indian industry that several IT and ICT driven corporates are actively engaged in the business of researching, adapting and delivering high quality education content to schools, colleges and into the homes of students around the country. This silent revolution in Indian education, which is dramatically improving teaching-learning outcomes in institutions of learning countrywide, offers the only hope of the nation attaining the cherished goal of QEFA (quality education for all), the raison d’etre of EducationWorld.
Therefore as the first cover feature of the new year, it’s a pleasure to present the inspiring story of the growth, development and future plans of Everonn Systems India Ltd (ESIL) — a low profile Chennai-based company in the vanguard of the silent ICT revolution, which offers hope of attaining the QEFA ideal. Given the national obsession with politics and Bollywood kitsch, few people even within Indian education, are aware of the pioneer role of ESIL and its modest and unassuming promoter-chief executive P. Kishore, in introducing the promise and potential of ICT into India’s moribund and decaying education system.
The engrossing story of how Kishore and ESIL overcame formidable hurdles and conservative mindsets to establish the country’s first computer education learning labs in private and government schools, and made ICT-driven education affordable for all under the BOOT (build own operate and transfer) model, is presented as the first lead feature of 2009.
The timing of this month’s cover story is apposite. In the Chennai offices of Everonn Systems the decks are being cleared for the roll out of a hugely ambitious project, which envisages the company discharging the role of “accelerator, aggregator, facilitator and manager” of an Educating India initiative. Under this plan 3,000 state-of-the-art, fully wired, ICT enabled greenfield schools, professional and vocational colleges will be funded by non-resident Indians, people of Indian origin around the world, and high net worth citizens and 3,000 corporates within the country. For further details of this unprecedented initiative scheduled to be presented to the public on January 23, which has the potential to revolutionise Indian education, you’ll have to read the cover story in this New Year issue.
And as per usual custom in our last issue of the year, we present the major education milestones of 2008 — yet another year of high hopes and missed opportunities.
