Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) has been shaping the Indian education system in the last decade. Many people are looking towards MOOC courses as an alternative to the regular courses. The pandemic has further boosted this with more and more people studying online across the globe due to the restrictions by the governments across the globe.
The MOOC courses have proved to be transforming both the urban and rural India alike and making it a viable medium for learning to all irrespective of the age. The MOOC courses are getting popular because of its capacity to bring international standards of learning to all through online platforms.
The past decade has been redefining online education in India, the students who are seeking skill-based education to increase their opportunities are ending up enrolling to MOOC courses that are relevant to their skills and interest. The MOOC courses remove barriers of physical education and even the people from remotest parts of the world can enroll to MOOC courses and can get themselves skilled and employable.
Relevance of MOOC in India
The MOOC courses are changing the education pace in India and the temporary closures of colleges in the country due to Covid 19 pandemic restrictions has further boosted the MOOC courses reachability in India. The sudden and unexpected demand for the educating children and barriers of digital divide in the country gave rise to the increase in demand for MOOC courses.
Many children in rural areas who are unable to reach the schools, ended up enrolling for MOOC courses online. The internet penetration despite blockages should be appreciated for making MOOC courses popular in India.
Further the New Education Policy 2020 (NEP) made strong efforts to boost skill based online MOOC education India. So, it can be anticipated that MOOC education will be the new normal for the future in India and NEP 2020 also emphasises on encouraging MOOC education in the next decades to come
NEP and MOOC Education
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has made several reasonable and reformative steps towards encouragement of online or MOOC education. With technology and commendable efforts from the government will ensure better penetration of MOOC education. The MOOC education plays a vital role for all the children residing in remotest corners of the country to get educated. India is a wide geographic country and MOOC education can act as a saviour for all the children living in remotest areas of the country. The geographical barriers cannot hinder the education for these talented children with MOOC education.
The NEP 2020 has been striving towards creating a reformative change in the issues of providing equitability, inclusivity, accessibility, exploratory and experimental learning etc. The MOOC form of education can be the best answer to all these questions