New Educational Apps Launched to Enhance Learning and Career Guidance for Students
Introduction of Innovative Educational Tools
Following the pandemic, there has been a significant decline in students' learning capabilities. In response, the Ministry of Education has initiated several measures. Among these, the Department of School Education and Literacy has developed two new applications. The TARA app, created with the assistance of IIT Bombay, aims to address reading difficulties faced by students. The second app, My Career Advisor, is designed to guide school students towards better career paths, offering insights into over a thousand career options.
Launch of TARA App
A senior official from the School Education Department stated that both applications will be launched soon. Additionally, the department has decided to introduce a Clean and Green School Rating as part of a new initiative. Recently, the Ministry also launched a Teacher App, which equips educators with skills necessary for 21st-century classrooms.
TARA App Portal:
The TARA app portal will assist students in verifying whether they have read the text correctly. This AI-based application is designed for students in grades 3 to 8 and has been piloted in central schools. It will soon be available for students across the country, focusing on enhancing reading skills in English and Hindi. The app utilizes speech processing and machine learning technologies.
In simple terms, students will read any text through the app, which will record their reading. They will then be able to identify where they mispronounced words. The app will evaluate reading speed and accuracy, facilitating effective improvements in reading skills. Currently, it will support Hindi and English, with plans to expand to multiple Indian languages in the future.
My Career Advisor App
Career Guidance for Students:
The School Education Department, in collaboration with the Wadhwani Foundation and NCERT, has developed the My Career Advisor app to provide career guidance to school students. This digital platform is tailored to meet the needs of students, allowing them to explore over a thousand career options, including job roles associated with each career.
Students will learn about the skills required for various jobs. The Ministry believes that this app will enable students to choose their preferred career paths while still in school, allowing them to select academic and skill courses when pursuing higher education. The app is designed to be user-friendly and will assist teachers, school counselors, and career advisors in providing better career options to students, making it easier to select courses based on market demand.
Clean and Green School Award
New Award for Schools:
The department has announced that the Clean School Award, previously given to schools, will now be known as the Clean and Green School Award. This award will recognize outstanding performance in cleanliness and environmental conservation within schools. It will be awarded to both government and private schools in rural and urban areas, evaluating aspects such as water supply, sanitation, handwashing facilities, waste management, and hygiene education.