The pandemic effect: parents everywhere have accepted edtech

When we talk of Indian parents adapting to using digital technology and online / hybrid learning, we usually have the image of young parents in Metro cities in mind. But parents everywhere, including tier 2 cities and even semi-rural India, have accepted edtech, or technology aided education as a safe and convenient mode of learning for their kids. Why is this trend continuing, even when kids are preparing to go back to school? Here are the reasons.  

Accepting hybrid models are helpful in remote locations  
One of the long-term lessons from the school closures during lockdown was that technology and parental engagement are the best levers to access education, and bridge the achievement gap between socially disadvantaged children and their peers. Parents in remote locations away from urban centres are no more cut off. Using a combination of school curriculum-based learning and online courses to ramp it up, they are being able to equip their kids with the same standard of education and variety of subjects as families in cities. So the hybrid model has found favour with these parents.  

Parents are influenced by schools and other parents  
Parents are more engaged in children’s learning when well-structured technological tools are provided or suggested by schools. They are willing to accept Google tools and Android apps recommended by schools. Likewise, parents are socially influenced by the opinions of other parents, teachers, and even children. Given that public opinion is strongly in favour of virtual education, parents are swayed in that direction. 

Governments are trying to facilitate parents in all locations 
Governments and school authorities are now aware of the factors that favour remote learning. So they are taking steps to put hybrid models in place and also spread digital awareness among parents to enable them to use technology. Many parents started discovering technology to help their kids, and in the process, discovered how useful it can be for the family too.  

The final factor working in favour of edtech is cost. Parents from Tier 2 or 3 cities would not have been able to pay for classes in everything ranging from coding to dancing unless online courses made these affordable. Edtech has opened a new world of opportunities for parents everywhere.