50% of Indian schools will adopt AR/VR tech in 3 years: Nischal’s Smart Learning

Currently, labs cost around Rs 1.5 lakh per subject.

With the ongoing implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that emphasizes developing Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)-powred content, Nischal’s Smart Learning Solutions predict about 50 percent of Indian schools will adopt AR/VR tech in some way.

According to founder Nischal Narayanam, VR hardware is expected to become cheaper and more affordable during this time, making it accessible to more schools.

Moneycontrol earlier reported how India's educational landscape is undergoing metamorphosis – from introducing dedicated modules on emerging technologies to establishing innovation centres that immerse students in the realms of artificial intelligence (AI), AR, and VR.

However, Narayanam noted that several challenges hinder the widespread adoption of AR/VR in schools, including the comfort of conventional pedagogy, lack of teacher skill set, cost implications, limited access and connectivity, and the need for curriculum alignment.

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“The increasing adoption of AR/VR technology in schools reflects a profound desire to engage students in a manner that resonates with them deeply. Basic AR applications accessible through smartphones have become increasingly user-friendly, further facilitating their adoption,” he said.

Recently, Nischal’s Smart Learning Solutions has observed that both private and government schools are increasingly receptive to adopting AR/VR technologies in their classrooms.

“While private schools may have more resources readily available for such advancements, government schools are also open to embracing these technologies. The primary difference lies in the potential challenges faced by government schools, particularly in terms of finances and connectivity,” Narayanam added.

Currently, labs cost around Rs 1.5 lakh per subject which Narayanam claims is 1/5th the cost of a conventional lab.

Power of AR/VR

So far, Nischal’s Smart Learning Solutions has collaborated with government schools across 14 states and plans to launch operations across all 28 states in the next three years. The company's labs have been implemented in over 5,000 schools across India so far, with 4,000 of them being government schools.

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The portable microscale labs provide hands-on learning experiences in maths, physics, chemistry, and biology, allowing students to engage with concepts directly in their classrooms.

Besides, AR-powered textbooks offer an immersive learning experience by integrating over 2,500 3D simulations into the curriculum. These simulations allow students to visualise abstract concepts. To be sure, the AR books are designed for classes 6-12 while VR books are designed for classes 1-5.

As of now, 400 schools are currently using AR-powered resources and 200 are underway. The company is targeting a presence in 1,000 schools nationwide by the end of the academic year 2024-25.

Meanwhile, VR is an upcoming product and is yet to make it to the market, but the implementation for the same will commence in June 2024.

Major competitors include Neotouch, Chromatic Infosystems, Firstouch Solutions among others.