Dr S Radha, Professor in Management, Former Additional Director-IGNOU, Accredited Management Teacher-AIMA

The Indian rural learners are facing lot of challenges in accessing the higher education. The choosing of higher education system depends on various aspects like,

1. Financial constraints: Many learners from rural and economically weaker sections discontinue studies at school or college level due to lack of financial support and need to take a job for survival.
2. Gender disparities: The marriage, safety concerns, household responsibilities etc, may force the rural girls to discontinue their studies.
3. Academic failure: The lack of interest, lack of motivation, unable to coop up with higher studies, poor foundation at earlier school level etc., may make the learners to discontinue.
4. Institutional skill deficiencies: The poor quality of education, lack of well experienced faculty, lack of mentorship for weak students etc., may discourage the learners and lead to discontinue the studies.
5. Medium of Study: Higher education is generally offered in English, whereas rural learners are proficient in local regional language. 
6. Lack of time management and stress management: Not having pre-planning of preparation, fear of failure, examination stress etc prevent the learners appearing the examinations.

A Collective work with positive Coordination:

The rural area people, government and NGOs have to take initiative collectively to face these challenges.  Some of the innovative and inclusive solutions to face the challenges of higher education are,

1. Offline use of Tablets: Use of Tablets preloaded with educational content for use without internet facility.
2. Use of low-bandwidth e-learning platforms: Usage of free versions of apps or whatsapp based lessons which is easily accessible to rural learners.
3. Establishment of community colleges: establishment of community colleges with low-cost to provide vocational and self employment oriented education.
4. Contribution of Gram Panchayat: The gram panchayat should establish digital libraries with digital infrastructure to facilitate rural learners to access.
5. Contribution of Government and NGOs: The Government and NGOs may contribute tablets or smart phones preloaded with education content to rural learners. They may equip rural schools with digital boards and tools.
6. Flexible educational loans: Providing delayed repayment option for rural learners after securing the employment
7. Public and private partnerships: To encourage the public and private partnerships to provide financial support to rural learners.
8. Training of teachers: The skills of rural teachers are to be upgraded periodically. For example use DIKHA e-platform to train the teachers.
9. Foundation courses: Pre-college foundation courses on English language is required for rural learners.
10. Mentorship with Alumni: The successful rural learners should mentor the school and college learners towards higher education.
11. Online courses in regional languages: Developing short duration online courses in regional language with sub titles in English to improve English courses.
12. Interactive online courses: Short duration interactive English courses helps to reduce the fear and improve the communication skills of rural learners.
13. Mobile career counselling facility: The counsellors and digital infrastructure should conduct higher education awareness campaigns in rural areas in vehicles.
14. Launch of awareness drives: Launch of awareness drives for parents of girls regarding the self sufficiency through education etc.,

It is every citizen responsibility to contribute for the educational opportunities in the rural area people.