When Karan Bajaj, a Class XII student and an IIT aspirant, turns on the TV for a break between tedious study sessions, his parents no longer mind. And why not? Because what is being aired on his television set (and on many others) is no longer just news, soap operas and cartoon shows. Interesting quizzes, English-speaking modules, school curriculum-linked maths and science theories are all on offer these days from direct-to-home (DTH) and IPTV providers. But how useful are these services? More importantly, when you’re taking a break, do you really want to look at science theories?
“No,” says Jasleen Kaur, a Class IX student, emphatically, “I’m sure these innovations have their uses, but with tuitions every day, and school homework, why would I waste time watching maths problems being solved on TV?” This is a fairly valid viewpoint, considering the immense pressure that most students operate under these days. There’s so much to do, there are so many deadlines to meet once you hit high school, answering quizzes on TV seems like an unlikely pastime. Bajaj begs to differ, “I like solving quizzes on TV. They’re a fun activity and it’s an interesting way to study — plus, it helps me revise and gives me a break from being cooped up with my books.”
While service providers like DishTV and Airtel offer services for students of Classes I to V, one wonders what’s the final verdict of the young viewers? The jury is still out on this one!