Reliance JioTV and Haryana Government Agreement to Benefit School Children

The Haryana Government’s collaboration with Reliance JioTV marked a major step in promoting digital learning and educational accessibility for school children across the state. The agreement aimed to make high-quality educational content available to students through television and mobile platforms, ensuring uninterrupted learning during periods when schools were closed and beyond.

Background

In response to the growing need for remote education and technological integration in learning, the Haryana Government entered into an agreement with Reliance JioTV to deliver classroom content via digital platforms. The initiative was launched as part of the Distance Education Programme, with the objective of reaching school students in even the most remote areas of the state.
The partnership was particularly timely in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, when physical classrooms were suspended, and access to online education was uneven due to digital infrastructure gaps. Through this agreement, Haryana became one of the first states in India to integrate its educational content with a large-scale digital television network to reach students at their homes.

Key Features of the Agreement

• Integration of EDUSAT Channels: Educational content from the Haryana Education Department’s EDUSAT system was made available on Reliance JioTV. This allowed students to access classroom lessons through multiple devices such as televisions, smartphones, tablets, and computers.
• Free Accessibility: The EDUSAT channels were provided free of cost on the JioTV platform, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all learners, regardless of economic background.
• Recorded Lessons: Each lesson telecast on the channels was made available for up to one week after broadcast, enabling students to rewatch and revise at their convenience.
• Wide Coverage: The initiative targeted over five million students across Haryana, covering both government and private schools. It included content for Hindi and English medium learners aligned with the curriculum of state and national education boards.

Objectives of the Initiative

The primary goal of the partnership was to provide equitable access to education through technology. The objectives included:

• Ensuring continuity of learning during school closures and disruptions.
• Making education more accessible and affordable for students in rural and underprivileged regions.
• Promoting digital literacy and familiarising students with modern learning tools.
• Utilising existing digital infrastructure to deliver curriculum-based lessons effectively across the state.

Educational and Technological Benefits

• Bridging the Digital Divide: By using television as a medium of learning, the initiative addressed the digital divide affecting students without access to high-speed internet or laptops.
• Flexibility in Learning: The replay feature allowed students to learn at their own pace, review lessons, and strengthen their understanding of subjects.
• Scalability: The collaboration used JioTV’s existing network to deliver education without requiring new infrastructure, making it cost-efficient and easily scalable.
• Multi-Device Learning: Lessons could be accessed across various devices, promoting flexibility and adaptability for different household setups.

Impact on Students and Schools

The initiative had a significant impact on Haryana’s education landscape:

• It brought learning resources directly into students’ homes, maintaining academic continuity during challenging times.
• Teachers benefited from wider reach and enhanced visibility for their content.
• Students from economically weaker backgrounds gained free access to standardised educational content without relying solely on online connectivity.
• The programme also fostered community engagement, as families could collectively participate in viewing and supporting children’s learning.

Challenges in Implementation

Despite its success, several challenges were observed during implementation:

• Limited device ownership: Some families lacked access to televisions or smartphones, especially in rural areas.
• Connectivity issues: In certain regions, network coverage remained inconsistent, affecting streaming quality.
• Student engagement: Passive viewing posed difficulties in ensuring interaction, feedback, and real-time doubt resolution.
• Awareness gap: Some parents and students were initially unaware of the availability and schedule of the lessons.

To address these challenges, the Education Department conducted outreach campaigns and collaborated with local administrations to spread awareness about broadcast schedules and encourage participation.

Significance of the Initiative

The collaboration between Reliance JioTV and the Haryana Government stands as a model example of public-private partnership in education. It highlights how digital platforms can be leveraged to make education more inclusive, efficient, and resilient to disruptions.
The initiative also contributed to Haryana’s vision of “Education for All”, combining traditional learning methods with digital innovation. It reflects the growing trend in Indian education policy to blend technology with classroom teaching, enabling hybrid learning environments.

Long-Term Implications

The success of this agreement has several long-term implications:

• It strengthens the foundation for digital education infrastructure in Haryana.
• It sets a precedent for other states to collaborate with private technology providers for educational development.
• It accelerates the integration of smart learning tools in public education systems.
• It creates an adaptable framework that can be utilised for supplementary and remedial learning even after schools resume normal operations.

Broader Educational Impact

Beyond addressing immediate learning needs, the programme symbolises a shift toward technology-driven inclusive education. It combines the reach of mass media with the flexibility of digital learning, ensuring that every child — irrespective of location or financial background — can access quality education.