DHE to introduce ‘E-Mitra’ to ensure students have access to online education

Team Herald

PANJIM: In a bid to ensure that every child has access to online education, the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) is all set to introduce a ‘E-Mitra’ initiative, wherein a student with good internet coverage will provide help and cooperation to his or her batchmate to download the e-syllabus. 

The announcement was made during the launch of YouTube programme ‘DISHTAVO’, wherein the college students will be able to view recorded lectures round-the-clock. 

DISHTAVO- Digital Integrated System for Holistic Teaching and Virtual Orientations is a first of its kind, entirely in-house project, launched by Directorate of Higher Education (DHE), wherein nearly 1200 teachers have recorded around 3,500 lecture videos, in all disciplines and degree programmes including BA, BSc, BCom, Music, Home Science, etc. Currently, 1000 videos have been uploaded. 

The project, which aims to provide offline education in the current digital world, was launched at the hands of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. 

“Goa is probably the first and only State to take the entire academic syllabus of higher education on an e-platform. The project is not just for the current academic year or during pandemic but it will be an annual feature for students. The lessons put on DISHTAVO will be upgraded timely and students can watch them offline too,” the Chief Minister said. 

Sawant said DISHTAVO is a comprehensive and holistic programme to create online e-content in the form of video lectures of syllabus and aims to provide students access to the academic content 24 hours a day. 

DHE director Prasad Lolayekar said the directorate is also planning to launch an E-Mitra initiative for the students who face internet issues. He said that each school and college will be asked to appoint E-Mitra. 

“An e-mitra will be a student who shall cooperate with the batchmate by downloading online content for the partner, who does not have access to the internet. This initiative will keep no stone unturned to educate students who face internet issues, especially in the remote villages of the State,” he said. 

Earlier, disclosing the highlights of the project, Lolayekar informed that a team comprising of 55 technical teachers from various colleges was put in place to create DISHTAVO. 

“It is a complete in-house project. Every video has gone through a rigorous process of editing, vetting, and re-creating. Till today 3,500 videos are already recorded and 1,000 videos are uploaded on the DISHTAVO,” he said.  

DISHTAVO not only provides video lectures but also provides textual transcripts of the video for easy reference, traditional class notes for additional information, self-assessments as well as links to additional resources. 

He said the UGC mandates that 40 per cent syllabus must be covered digitally. “COVID-19 has given us a chance to expand our wings. Along with the video, a student will be also provided with the transcript, notes, glossary and link for extra reference material. This will act as a continuous and additional resource for the students,” Lolayekar said.