Bringing Data Science Education to Secondary Schools in India for Zero Cost

Background

Data science is a critical skill in today’s technology-driven world, yet many Indian secondary schools lack the resources to introduce it into their curricula. In partnership with DataCamp Donates, Omdena set out to bridge this gap by bringing DataCamp Classrooms to India. The initiative aims to equip both students and teachers with industry-recognized data science skills at no cost, enabling them to solve real-world challenges and contribute to societal advancement.

Objective

The project’s primary goal was to create a database of Indian secondary schools, including names, email addresses, and domains. This information would facilitate the distribution of DataCamp Classrooms’ resources, ensuring schools across India can access free data science education.

Approach

To tackle this challenge, Omdena’s team:

• Conducted extensive research to compile data on Indian secondary schools.
• Used various data collection methods to identify schools’ names, email addresses, and domains, overcoming inconsistencies and data gaps.
• Classified and validated the data, sorting it into categories like unique domains (3,119), private domains (1,584), and generic domains (31,197).
• Collaborated across time zones to achieve the project’s goals despite resource limitations.

Results and Impact

The project resulted in a comprehensive database with over 35,000 records of Indian secondary schools. This data will enable DataCamp Donates to grant access to their classrooms, equipping students and teachers with essential data science skills. Notable outcomes include:

• Identification of schools lacking internet facilities, highlighting the digital divide.
• A robust framework for extending DataCamp Classrooms to other countries, aligning with the global mission to advance technological growth through data science education.

Future Implications

This project lay the groundwork for expanding DataCamp Classrooms to other regions, addressing global educational disparities in data science. Policymakers and educational institutions can leverage this data to prioritize digital infrastructure development, ensuring that no school is left behind in the digital age. This project underscores the transformative potential of collaborative efforts in shaping the future of education.