COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY FOR LITERACY AND EMPOWERMENT OF MASSES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Presuming that the economic development of a country depends on i) the level of success in expanding educational opportunities for masses, and ii) to what extent common people feel empowered for making decisions in various spheres of their lives, the authors maintain that the computer technology has opened avenues in the field of education that were absent as late as the last decade. In developing countries that are characterized by resource shortages, education funding generally gets shortchanged compared to other more pressing needs. This presentation will focus on the creative use of computer technology for expanding educational opportunities for the masses at the fraction of cost compared to the traditional modes of schooling. We believe that there is a realistic case to be made for a shift in paradigm about the process of education that is more relevant for the 21st century. The presentation would include instances of successes of pioneering efforts in the field of education from several countries, including India, and engage the audience in generating ideas that are feasible and promising.