In India, Information Gap Hinders Social Mobility for Students
In India, a stark divide exists in educational opportunities for students, with wealthier peers gaining an edge due to better access to information. While technology has made information more accessible, it has also increased irrelevant content, making it harder for disadvantaged students to find crucial paths like IIT JEE coaching.
Tej Pandya, in a LinkedIn post, highlighted the potential of digital opportunities to boost mobility for underprivileged communities. However, the challenge lies in navigating the vast, unstructured online content. Consciously curating relevant information can accelerate learning and career growth, but this requires digital literacy and time, which are luxuries not all students can afford.
Knowledge of government schemes, upskilling platforms, and global opportunities can significantly impact a student's prospects. Yet, poor students often miss out on these critical paths due to lack of information. The difference between success and stagnation often hinges on having the right information at the right time.
In India, talent isn't the barrier to social mobility; lack of structured access to relevant information is. To bridge the gap, efforts must focus on providing disadvantaged students with targeted, curated information about critical paths, subsidies, and exam preparation. After all, in today's world, information is the new currency.
