Written by – Praveen Parameswar, CEO – Lifology. Lifology is the Guinness World Recording winning, India’s 1st Career EcoSystem for parents
Every fifth person in India is in the adolescent age group (10 to 19 years), according to the census data and UNICEF statistics. This is the time when they require proper guidance to choose between pathways in higher education and thereby career. The privilege of access to guidance in choosing the right career path was only attributed to urban parents and kids until a few years ago. People in tier II and tier III cities and the rural locations in India, even after covering more than 74% of the total population, did not have access to enough opportunities, resources or support in choosing the right education or career.
But the intervention of technology over the last couple of years brought significant changes in the scenario. Six of the major problems the parents and children outside the top cities faced were analysed, and this is how technology helped in resolving the concerns while creating tides of change.
- Awareness about various career options
Seminars, expert talks, and similar events did expose the urban parents and kids to various career opportunities. They were closer to the centre of business and changes in the employment scenario. They were highly inaccessible to the population outside the major cities. But today there are platforms that host curated content through which different career options are introduced to parents and children.
- Self-assessment tools and counselling
Experts and policy makers always talk about choosing career and higher studies based on aptitude and intelligence orientation. There are scientifically designed tools available for this purpose. However, this has also been used only by top notch schools and learned parents. The counsellors who use these tools used to cater only to the elite crowd. But now any person sitting anywhere in the country has access to aptitude assessment followed by counselling, provided they have an internet connection.
- Mentoring opportunities
69.9% of parents wish to see their children pursuing their passion as a career, says Lifology Parent Perspective study conducted across 81,327 parents. But the unfortunate reality is that both the parent and child lack the right mentoring to plan the journey forward. In order to be successful in a field nothing can substitute direct mentoring by veterans in the same industry. As professionals were more centered around cities, it was difficult for children in rural areas to have access to such bright brains. Technology has changed this scenario forever. Now there are opportunities for parents to get an expert in Bangalore or Mumbai or Cochin as a mentor to their kids, irrespective of their geographical location and coordinates.
- Test preparation
Quality content, high profile teachers and modern learning methodology were inaccessible for children until they were ready to relocate to the hubs of test preparation that are mostly located in cities. Now the scenario is different. Nation’s the best teachers are supporting kids through desktops, tablets and even mobile phones. Another study by Lifology conducted among 38,564 parents across India found that 61% of parents seek the support of e-learning platforms in the last 6 months.
- Scholarships and financial aids
Except for government sponsored scholarships and financial aid, external support was not accessible for children in the non-urban areas. Now thousands of scholarships worth millions are accessible for children from any part of the country. ‘Buddy for Study’, a prominent Ed Tech start-up in this field claims that they have disbursed scholarships worth 95 Crore till date. There are organisations facilitating application, guidance, selection and funding for education.
- Admission and access to elite universities
Wherever the university locates, getting information, submitting applications and grabbing admission is not a big issue today. Even it is possible to apply to universities in the UK, USA or Australia from any part of the country. This is another bridge the new technology start-ups are building for connecting the ends.
The way technology start-ups currently helping people to grow beyond geographical proximity to resources can be defined through the above six points. The scope is getting larger day by day. It is sure that the next ten years will change the scenario of education in India in 360 degrees.
