In a significant move to enhance education access across India, Google has announced a collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This partnership aims to bring high-quality educational content to remote areas of the country, ensuring students, teachers, and parents have access to relevant learning resources.
Through this initiative, multiple YouTube channels will be launched, featuring content in 29 Indian languages, including Indian Sign Language, making education more inclusive.
As part of the partnership, NCERT will roll out YouTube channels aligned with the curriculum from grades 1 to 12 over the coming months. These channels will provide students with comprehensive educational content in a highly engaging and accessible format. The move aims to empower students, parents, and teachers across the country, enabling them to benefit from quality education, regardless of their geographical location.
Jonathan Katzman, Director of Product Management, YouTube Learning, highlighted the importance of accessible education in India and emphasized that YouTube has always prioritized learning. He further stated that YouTube can help bridge gaps in education with innovative partnerships, tools, and resources, making learning content more accessible to a wider audience.
In addition to the NCERT partnership, Google has announced a collaboration with the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) to offer credentialed courses across a variety of subjects.
This initiative aims to make education more accessible to individuals who may not be part of the IIT system. NPTEL now offers 50 credentialed courses, covering subjects such as pure sciences, literature, sports psychology, and even rocket propulsion.
This collaboration enables learners to access courses through NPTEL's YouTube channels, complete the online certification via the NPTEL-SWAYAM portal, and earn certificates from IITs. Jonathan Katzman mentioned that additional courses will be made available in the future, broadening the range of learning opportunities for students.
Google first introduced structured learning experiences on YouTube in India in 2022. With a focus on empowering creators, YouTube aims to enable even more creators to develop and share their courses, helping them reach wider audiences. This approach not only benefits learners but also encourages the growth of educational content creation, fostering a more diverse educational ecosystem.
In 2024, YouTube has made strides in enabling creators to design structured, comprehensive courses, allowing for a more streamlined and effective learning process.
The company also introduced "Key Concepts," which leverages AI to provide learners with better comprehension of subjects like biology, physics, and chemistry. AI identifies key concepts in educational videos, offering definitions and images from Google's Knowledge Graph to aid understanding.
To further support learners in their educational journey, YouTube has introduced Quizzes. These quizzes help learners apply what they’ve learned, reinforcing their knowledge and enhancing retention.
Additionally, the YouTube Player for Education is now being used by educational institutions and edtech companies like Quizizz and Teachmint. This player enhances how educational content is delivered and viewed in classrooms around the world, improving the learning experience.
In a bid to promote AI literacy, YouTube has also launched the AI Skills House programme. This initiative provides free access to Google's flagship AI courses, such as "Introduction to Generative AI," "Introduction to Responsible AI," and "Introduction to Large Language Models." These courses will soon be available in seven Indian languages, offering individuals across India an opportunity to gain valuable skills in artificial intelligence.