5 Reasons Why Online Learning is the Future of Education
The current education landscape highlights the reality and value of online learning in today's fast-paced world and it is evident that online education has undergone a rapid transformation. Initially, online learning was considered as the optional or secondary preference, but now, for millions it has become the primary and fundamental step for education across the globe. This major revolution in learning was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenging time when all the learners were struggling to attend proper physical classes, it was online education that reshaped the learning experience by helping students to connect with their educators through multiple channels and attend classes. Further this momentum escalated due to its modern technology, flexibility, and best outputs.
As per the 2023 reports by Research and Markets, the reach of the e-learning market is expected to reach USD 840.11 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 17.53%. Hence, e-learning is growing very fast and gaining importance all across the globe. Listed below are 5 data-driven reasons why online learning is the next future of education.
- Comfort and Flexible
Flexibility is the key advantage of online education for learners. Learners can learn their subjects through recorded sessions, making it more convenient for those who have missed their classes. Working professionals, students and parents can attend online lectures, assignments, and tasks at their convenience. This makes education more accessible and comfortable for everyone.
A report by Statista in 2022 states that 73% of students all over the world prefer online learning because it helps them to learn at their own comfort and schedule. Without any geographical or time barrier, learners can grab knowledge from recorded lectures and assignments. This is the reason that a large number of people are in support of online education.
- Cost-Effectiveness
Another major reason for preferring online education is its affordability. As compared to traditional methods of teaching that require classroom education, online education is significantly more affordable and accessible. The expenses in classroom education are not only limited to monthly fees but also includes the costs of textbooks, commuting, accommodation, and other co-curricular activities, in contrast learners save their expenses in all these mediums and invest their money in internet recharges and digital textbooks, which are cheaper than the printed books.
- Global Access and Inclusivity
Online education is accessible from anywhere in the world. The geographical barriers have been eliminated in today’s world as students from rural or underdeveloped areas can also easily pursue world class education and certification courses from reputed universities.
In the year 2021, Statista conducted a survey which stated that 35% of Indian students agreed that studying with global peers enhances their study experience. The most appealing part is that many Indian students can study at Stanford, Harvard, or MIT through online education, which is a dream for many.
- Personalised experience
Another important aspect of e-learning is the personalised experience it offers. Students can adapt lessons and subjects tailored to their strengths and weaknesses. AI-driven tools foster personalised learning and the subjects and lessons are arranged based on individual performance. Deloitte highlighted in their 2021 report that adaptive education platforms improve retention rates by up to 60%, compared to traditional pedagogy.
- Increased Course Variety and Skill-Based Learning
India's online education industry is expanding at an all-time rate. India's e-learning market was worth $10.24B as of 2023 and is expected to cross $28.46B by 2029, increasing at a CAGR of 18.57% (Arizton Advisory & Intelligence). In another report by Statista, India's online learning industry is going to expand exponentially on the back of increasing availability of smartphones and internet. The market is expected to expand to $8.6 billion by 2026, which is an addition to the global trend of increasing adoption of online learning across the world. A brief look at the estimated figures for online education in India by Statista is given below:
- The Online Education market is projected to generate $7.57B in revenue in 2025.
- Revenue is expected to grow at a 25.76% CAGR (2025–2029), reaching $18.94B by 2029.
- Segment comprising online learning platform alone is estimated to hit $6.20B in 2025.
- Average revenue per user (ARPU) is estimated at $34.62 in 2025.
- The number of users is expected to reach 309.1 million by 2029.
- User penetration will be 15.0% in 2025.
Conclusion
Online learning is redefining education, enabling education across the globe, age groups, and economic classes. Digital literacy is evolving at a fast pace and reducing the global education gap. It is getting processed by better technological advancements, government focus and flexible learning.
