In a significant move to make quality education widely available across India, Google has joined hands with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This collaboration aims to provide engaging and accessible learning content for students, teachers, and parents, especially through YouTube, one of the largest video platforms in the country.
Expanding Reach Through YouTube
As part of this initiative, NCERT will launch dedicated YouTube channels that will cater to students from classes 1 to 12. These channels will provide educational videos in 29 Indian languages, including Indian Sign Language. This step ensures that education reaches learners from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, enabling better accessibility for all, including students with disabilities.
Jonathan Katzman, Director of Product Management for YouTube Learning, shared in a blog post, “Learning has always been a central focus for YouTube. In India, where accessible education is crucial for progress, YouTube has the potential to deliver valuable learning resources through innovative tools, partnerships, and content.”
The channels will host curriculum-aligned videos and cover subjects relevant to school education. By leveraging YouTube’s platform, NCERT aims to enhance learning outcomes and ensure that quality educational resources are available free of cost.
Google and NPTEL Launch AI-Powered Online Courses
In addition to its partnership with NCERT, Google has teamed up with the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) to offer certified online courses on YouTube. These courses cover a range of topics, including sciences, engineering, and even niche fields like sports psychology and rocket propulsion.
Speaking about the collaboration, Katzman said, “This initiative allows anyone, even those outside the IIT system, to take NPTEL courses, access certification through the NPTEL-SWAYAM portal, and earn credentials from IITs.” He further added that more courses will be introduced in the coming months to meet growing demand.
AI-Powered Learning Tools
To make the learning process more effective, Google is also integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) features into YouTube educational content. The AI tools will identify concepts discussed in videos and provide relevant definitions and visuals sourced from Google’s Knowledge Graph. This will support subjects like physics, biology, and chemistry, helping students better understand complex topics through video transcripts and other metadata.
By combining AI tools, certified courses, and language inclusivity, Google and NCERT are working to create a robust digital learning ecosystem. This effort highlights Google’s vision to bridge gaps in education, especially in a diverse and vast country like India, where technology can be a game changer.
With these initiatives, Google’s partnership with NCERT and NPTEL promises to bring transformative changes in the way Indian students, teachers, and parents access learning resources.