Recently i observed little disturbing trends in how technology is becoming important player in the process of education in general and women's education in particular. i would like to share three incidences to make my point.
i am waiting at a photocopy centre on SNDT Women's University campus cooperative store. Two men- one elderly and one boy entered and inquired with the shopkeeper about filling up online application form for B.Pharm. and D.Pharm. In the process of conversation i was made to understand that the boy (who was hardly 14-15 years old) was dictating the processes and the man (who was the father) whose daughter was in the village was to be admitted for higher education!! The (semi-literate) man on the counter of Photocopy shop told them to opt for Mumbai University in spite of having set up the shop on SNDTWU campus!! Another boy (20 something) came to the shop and asked for print out of online application that his sister had done. The man on the counter told him, it would cost 100 Rs. And when the work was to begin the boy could not recollect from where the application form was to be downloaded. He did not know the difference between universities or admission portals.
Parents, mainly mothers of kids who just passed out tenth standard had to apply for online admission for 11th standard. The struggle to get photo as well as signature scanned appeared herculean to the mothers whose knowledge of technology was limited to Whats App. Few of them clearly said that the children are making their own decisions since parents can not be present in the entire process of online filling- offline submitting and getting portals reset to correct errors that occur during online filling of the application!!!
My discussions with management and principal of the College affiliated to SNDTWU having Mumbai University college in the same locality revealed that the College of Mumbai University is flooding with applications due to tie up with the local photocopy shop !! Interestingly the semi-literate boys on the so-called Xerox shops are calling shots for people filling up online application forms who are advised to fill up application to "unaided" (higher fees) batch of a particular college for ensured admission.
Indian parents and prospective students lack awareness and understanding about education system in the country. Most do not understand difference between college and university, Public institution and private players, aided or unaided programmes, education/training or placement !!! While women's higher education is not a top priority in the family decisions, technology seem to be the newer player which may decide where we go in the years to come...................
i am waiting at a photocopy centre on SNDT Women's University campus cooperative store. Two men- one elderly and one boy entered and inquired with the shopkeeper about filling up online application form for B.Pharm. and D.Pharm. In the process of conversation i was made to understand that the boy (who was hardly 14-15 years old) was dictating the processes and the man (who was the father) whose daughter was in the village was to be admitted for higher education!! The (semi-literate) man on the counter of Photocopy shop told them to opt for Mumbai University in spite of having set up the shop on SNDTWU campus!! Another boy (20 something) came to the shop and asked for print out of online application that his sister had done. The man on the counter told him, it would cost 100 Rs. And when the work was to begin the boy could not recollect from where the application form was to be downloaded. He did not know the difference between universities or admission portals.
Parents, mainly mothers of kids who just passed out tenth standard had to apply for online admission for 11th standard. The struggle to get photo as well as signature scanned appeared herculean to the mothers whose knowledge of technology was limited to Whats App. Few of them clearly said that the children are making their own decisions since parents can not be present in the entire process of online filling- offline submitting and getting portals reset to correct errors that occur during online filling of the application!!!
My discussions with management and principal of the College affiliated to SNDTWU having Mumbai University college in the same locality revealed that the College of Mumbai University is flooding with applications due to tie up with the local photocopy shop !! Interestingly the semi-literate boys on the so-called Xerox shops are calling shots for people filling up online application forms who are advised to fill up application to "unaided" (higher fees) batch of a particular college for ensured admission.
Indian parents and prospective students lack awareness and understanding about education system in the country. Most do not understand difference between college and university, Public institution and private players, aided or unaided programmes, education/training or placement !!! While women's higher education is not a top priority in the family decisions, technology seem to be the newer player which may decide where we go in the years to come...................
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