Arvind Kejriwal launches virtual school

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the Delhi Model Virtual School, which is said to bring revolutionary changes in the field of education not only in the national capital but across the country. The CM further said the platform was created by Google and Schoolnet India.

The school will be for classes IX to XII and will be affiliated to the Delhi Board of School Education. The platform will also provide students access to a huge digital library, and the content will be available 24×7. Students will also be provided coaching for competitive exams, such as JEE and NEET, in classes 11 and 12.

The CM said, “This school will make education accessible for every child, especially those who cannot go to school due to various familial circumstances. Even today, many people don’t send their daughters to school, some children get into child labour to support their families… in some cases, schools are far from their homes — this school will provide education to all of them.

“Specialists from various sectors will be engaged. Recordings of every class will also be uploaded on the website, so if any student misses it, they can watch the recording. Students will also be provided skill-based training for professional courses so they can do part-time jobs and continue their studies,” the CM said.

Meanwhile, the Centre-run National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), which functions as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, countered Kejriwal’s claim. In a statement, the NIOS said, “With reference to certain media reports regarding the claims of India’s first virtual school being launched today, it is informed that the first virtual school of the country was already launched by NIOS in August 2021.”

The NIOS added that presently there are over 7,000 study centres affiliated with the NIOS which are providing academic support, while more than 1,500 study centres are providing support in skill based-vocational courses to the learners.