My Rs 100 Crore Experiment to Transform Education in India: Dr. Aniruddha Malpani

s an angel investor and social activist, I've always thrived on challenging the status quo. And there's no denying that education in India desperately needs a revamp.

Our rote-learning system churns out students who struggle with critical thinking, real-world problem-solving, and independent learning.  

My core belief is simple: every student possesses the capability to learn for themselves, given the right environment, tools, and support. That's why I'm launching a daring experiment to revolutionize education for India's youth.

With an initial investment of Rs 1 crore, I plan to subsidize the purchase of 1,000 high-quality educational PCs (including monitor, keyboard, mouse, webcam, and headphones) priced at Rs 10,000 each, with flexible EMI options for low-income families.

These PCs, built specifically for educational use by my portfolio company Selligion (www.selligion.com), offer a gateway to a world of knowledge without unnecessary frills that inflate costs .

The market price for this without the subsidy is around Rs 17,000.

Why a PC? Access empowers students to excel in school and exams through free online resources like Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org).

More importantly, it equips them as independent lifelong learners by pursuing their curiosity.

The internet offers a treasure trove of world-class educational content, and with AI tutors like CoTutor (https://cotutor.tech), students can explore any subject at their pace.

These PCs come with a 3-year warranty, ensuring durability. The reason for subsidizing, not entirely donating, is my firm belief in shared responsibility.

When families invest, they value the tool more, fostering engagement crucial for transforming a child's learning journey.

‍Potential Roadblocks: Why This Experiment Might Not Succeed

‍Let's be honest, no bold experiment is without risks. Here are the key hurdles we anticipate:
‍Technology Access ≠ Guaranteed Learning:

Simply providing a PC doesn't magically boost intelligence.

Student motivation and parental involvement are critical to ensure productive PC usage.

Peer interaction for collaborative learning is also important.

Cultural Resistance and Inertia:

‍Traditional beliefs in India often equate tuitions with academic success.

Convincing parents to prioritize PCs over tuitions could be an uphill battle.

Limited Parental Digital Literacy: While students might readily adapt, parents less familiar with technology may struggle to support their child's online learning journey.

Over-reliance on Self-Learning: Not all students are naturally drawn to self-directed learning. Without proper guidance, some might feel overwhelmed by the vastness of online resources.

‍Maximizing Success: Our Plan to Navigate the Obstacles

‍To mitigate these risks, we're taking several crucial steps:

‍Building a Support Ecosystem:

We'll provide students and parents with guidance on utilizing the PC for educational purposes.

This could involve community-based workshops or digital literacy programs offered by NGOs or social entrepreneurs.

The ideal scenario is a combination of affordable hardware, intelligent software, and human support, creating a balance between structured and self-directed learning.

Online communities of Praho users will continue to teach and learn from each other , using Telegram and WhatsApp.
‍Community-Based Learning Pods:

Our network of ApniPathshala pods (www.ApniPathshala.org) run by educational NGOs across India will provide safe spaces for students to learn collaboratively in mixed-age groups.  

Partnerships with Educational Entrepreneurs:

‍We'll collaborate with entrepreneurs to run small, affordable community-based teaching centers.

These centers, operating on a for-profit model, can ensure sustainability while remaining financially accessible for low-income families.
‍Engaging Parents:

By equipping parents with PC skills, we empower the entire family.

This not only benefits their children's education but also empowers them to access government services and other resources.

‍Scaling the Vision:

A Brighter Future for Education
If this experiment proves successful, I'm ready to invest Rs 100 crores to scale it across India.

The potential impact is transformative – not just for education but for our entire approach to learning.

By shifting the focus from rote learning and rigid classroom structures to self-directed, technology-driven education, we can move away from a scarcity mindset (limited college seats and jobs) and embrace a growth mindset focused on abundance.

This empowers a new generation of students with the skills they need to thrive in the modern world. We want to open-source this model, so that others can replicate it, and allow it to grow exponentially !

This is an experiment, and like any endeavor, it holds the potential for failure.

But true progress demands action. By taking calculated risks, we unlock the doors to untold possibilities. I'm placing my bet on India's students, and I believe they'll rise to the challenge.

We are building and sharing openly. Join us at https://www.teachtoearn.in

The post is written by Dr. Anirudda Malpani