Is Edtech murdering Innovation?

Quite a queer contradiction in terms, as the technology-enabled education industry is natively innovative, as a format of delivery. But then, its regressive conduct does suggest a nauseating rewind to the draconian Competition Success Review.

Veterans in this saccharine age will certainly nurture, not cherish, recollections of the archaic Indian education system, depicted evocatively in 3 Idiots. The kamikaze actions of Pia's brother were simply a superlative of the prevalent mindset, the non-scientific underachiever constantly under the societal cosh. In this unforgiving universe, numerical performance was the sole solicitor, of both potent potential and inscrutable integrity.

A much lamented collateral damage was the culture of innovation, and on this much has been written by many who are wise. The photocopied narrative confirmed that Indian brains were great engineers, masters of the process, but the mindset was hostile to departure from the stated. Truthfully, the movers and shakers were not much bothered, as the IT industry became the flag bearer of our first-world aspirations, milking the scalability of such competencies.

But then, somewhere along the line, aided by the magic potion called liberalisation, our native indigenous genius slanted provocatively to doing the new. An outcome clearly of new-age parenting and teaching, where meaningful outcomes and not just routine output topped the charts. Clearly accountable was the influence of Western academic thinking, achievable there, predictably, and remarkably here as well, Ashoka and Jindal the capable flagbearers. In a linear sequence, the start-up culture shot to fame, be it provenly unicorn or figuratively popcorn, and we suddenly seemed to be competing on the innovation charts.

Till the time Byju's and its ilk stepped in, to distract the pitch for inarguably legitimate business ambitions. The monetarily massaged think tank converging on our core insecurity mindset, an imbalanced scorecard focussing on petty results. Without even commenting on the debatable hearsay about gangster-like parental enrollment, the advertising initiatives profer sufficient evidence of this deliberate rewind to what held us back.

A much-invested campaign reveals the delight of a child and mother on the A+ report card, a disgusting throwback to our depressing past. It suggests certainly that an alternate outcome would upset the parent and most certainly, pizza would not be served for dinner. Tuitions are thus thrust as the indispensable formula for success, defined by parameters that are truly retrograde. Perhaps the chaps who should be most furious are the new age schools, marketing entities indisputably, whose acumen is being threatened by these High Sea pirates.

Also, equally despicable, is another communication which depicts the nonstop availability of tuition teachers, as seemingly they have no right to personal liberties. The eager beaver lady seems willing to sacrifice her dinner time, Netflix show, and even, the mehndi of her blood sister, to satisfy the curiosities of the miniature clientele. Now, service orientation is swell and good, but an education culture that makes the educationist a robotic recipient of the student's commands is undeniably uncool and not in tune with civil living.

Most importantly, as suggested earlier, the reinstation of rote-driven result orientation may well be a depressing dagger for our nascent innovative bones. As it once again, places a dangerous focus on the report card obsession, as opposed to curating life-altering solutions, which are profitable, sustainable, and impactful. It is justifiable to suggest that the Edtech, at best hybrid, evolution is honestly detrimental to our national interests, in the manner it is being projected currently. There can be far wiser applications of such wisdom and technology, that can take India to newer vistas.

When Byju's associated with the FIFA World Cup, every Indian did feel proud at an emotional level. Although the sector at large gives us many more reasons to be frightened about the future of education.