Learning thru TV! - An intellectual initiative

India's first curriculum-based TV channel

Greycells18 Media on Monday announced the launch of India's first curriculum-based education TV channel 'Topper' which is a part of the "Topper Integrated Learning System".

From the moment this headline of the article caught my eyes, a series of thoughts went around in my mind.
1.How can this be used as a medium in the first place?
2.How can such a channel make its presence felt amid glittering dance, comedy and other reality shows?
3.How much of help will this be to our country's children? and many more questions...

The article says "The educational channel being launched in English will be accessible to viewers through digital television and Internet, and will initially cater to higher secondary classes." In this hi-fi age of advanced telecommunications & internet facilities, DTH operators (TATA SKY & DishTV) have come up with interactive games that enable children to have fun while at the same time improving their IQ. Given the increase in the number of subscribers to DTH , the difficulty in one-dimensional education, increase in the tuition costs and shrinking free-time of children, more parents would definitely want their children to improve IQ while at the same time enjoying respite from the hectic schedule they are expected to undergo. Also "Statistics show that there are approximately 300 million kids who enrolled in schools across India. Thus there is a significant opportunity to supplement the existing school system for children to make the best of their secondary education". Therefore, I feel that this medium has a great potential and scope in the next 5-10 years. Though there is a mention that the Topper TV will "initially cater to higher secondary classes" we nee to wait and watch how the rural children would be able to take advantage of such an offer!!


The article also mentions "The channel will telecast six fresh episodes daily, with four episodes based on the regular course and two episodes on the exam specials, pertaining to the upcoming board exams." This means that the programmes would be designed to meet the educational needs of the students and anything, which the students can relate to, that can help them achieve higher success in education has an opportunity to sideline the reality shows. But, an important strategy that the founders of this initiative should keep in mind is that the courses should combine education and entertainment (something like an infotainment) in the proper ratio if they wish to really help the children and succeed in this venture.


"Topper will provide validated curriculum-based content that will comply with CBSE and other related state boards." says another line. Relevance, as I said earlier, is going to be the key factor and if the Indian students are offered courses that they learn in schools, then the need for those special classes and tuition would be reduced greatly. This would save a lot of money and the time spent by the students.

Some of my concerns apart from those expressed in between the paragraphs above:

1. Learning at home can be fun, but for younger children and those children who require personalized attention, this does not seem to be a promising option to improve their learning unless the parents are educated enough or have sufficient time to spend with the kids!
2. Different kids have to be explained the concepts in different ways! - with a course content and presentation that is unchanging there could be a difficulty in this aspect!
3. Last and the most important concern - I have a strong feeling that the students located in major cities already have access to the best of supporting courses to supplement their classroom coaching. It is the rural mass that is yet to see the best of teaching techniques and learning resources. Hence there is a long way to go before this "new medium of education" can be termed a milestone in Indian education society!!

Nevertheless I should give full credit to the founders who have come up with such a great idea!

For those interested in knowing more about this; please log on to : www.topperlearning.com

Signing off

Shaaz!