How mix of online & offline education can solve India's skill problem: Education expert Varun Gupta explains

Online has become the “New Normal” in the world hard hit by the Covid pandemic where every part of the life including work, education, and play has been impacted in some manner. In this new normal, online work and education have not only saved many jobs but also helped in continuous study progress of millions across the world.

Online learning has proved to be a paradigm-shifting revolution in the field of education. It has not only improved the education and learning process during the Covid-19 period, but has also helped in introduction of numerous fresh concepts and inventions in the field. It has significantly improved the standard of education and has also helped in skills development in rural and isolated regions. Additionally, it has guaranteed that getting quality education is affordable, convenience and easier to access.

But now in the post-Covid era, many are wondering what to pick -- online or offline studies -- or balance the both. The mix of online and offline education can solve this conundrum. "For developing a workforce that is prepared for employment, a combination of online learning strategies and offline learning sessions through practical training can solve India's skill problem," Varun Gupta, Founder of IMTS Noida said.

"Online can optimize the learning process, while offline can make it more practical-oriented. A healthy mix of online and offline blended learning can create a workforce that has both knowledge and skills. The great advantage of blended learning is that it offers “the best of both worlds” – that is, the advantages of online education combined with all the benefits of the traditional classroom," Gupta said.

The blended learning can overcome one of the biggest obstacle in the India's inaccessible education system. India’s higher education system is the third-largest after China and the US, but access to higher education, especially equitable higher education, remains difficult for reasons ranging from unaffordability to lack of opportunity.

The blended learning can provide quick solution to this problem. In terms of benefits, students not only saves course fees, but also on numerous other benefits like physical relocation and other overheads.

In a job market like India where skill gap is getting worse, blended learning can prove to be a cost-effective and quicker method for producing skilled manpower. The skills gap, specially the information technology sector, is significantly higher, as per a recent Skillsoft’s 2022 IT Skills and Salary Report.

As per another report by Nasscom-Zinnov, India is projected to face a shortage of 14-19 lakh tech professionals by 2026.

A mix of online and offline learning can bridge this shortage efficiently and economically. India can take this opportunity to use the technology not only to supplement, but to transform and improve the learning process, making it truly democratic and levelling the playing field.