33 new initiatives taken to strengthen edu system: Javadekar

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar on June 18, 2018, said that 33 new initiatives have been taken by the Government in the last four years to strengthen the education system. Addressing a Press Conference in New Delhi on the achievements of four years of HRD Ministry, Javadekar said that revolutionary changes have been made to provide affordable and quality education to all.

The Minister said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister  Narendra Modi transformational changes have taken place in the education sector bringing in accessibility, quality, accountability, equity & affordability besides giving a tremendous push to research and innovation. Dr. Satya Pal Singh, Minister of State for HRD, Department of Higher Education, and Upendra Kushwaha, Minister of State for HRD, Department of School Education and Literacy, were also present at the press conference.

Highlighting the new initiative on learning outcomes, Javadekar said that Learning Outcomes benchmark student’s capabilities to be achieved in each subject and class every year. This will bring in accountability of schools, teachers and students as well as parents and will improve the quality of school education. The Minister disclosed  that 103 new Kendriya Vidyalayas and 62 new Navodaya Vidyalayas have been opened during the last four years, according to a PIB release.

Terming the National Assessment Survey as the World’s largest National Assessment Survey, Javadekar said 22 lakh students of class 3, 5 and 8 & 15 lakh students of class 10 were assessed in this survey. He said that  education profile of every district and state has been shared with Chief Ministers, MPs & officials.

Referring to change in no-detention policy, HRD Minister said The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017, has already been tabled in Parliament, and  as per proposed Amendment, states will  hold examination of students in class 5 and 8. If a student fails in second attempt, he/she can be detained. This will ensure a continued study by the students and improve their performance. Focusing on teachers’ education, he said that 14 lakh unqualified D.El.Ed teachers are doing course on “Swayam” platform and  1st year exam has been successfully conducted.

Javadekar  said that the Government has taken up the rationalisation of syllabus and 37,000 people have given their suggestions to reduce the curriculum. He said that more time is needed to focus on value education, experiential learning, life skills education, creative skills and physical education. He said that Budget will increase by 20% each year under the Samagra Shiksha. Javadekar said every day 95 million students are served fresh cooked food at 11.4 lakh schools at a cost of Rs 17,000 crore per year.

The Minister said that on the Higher Education front, 141 Universities, 14 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 7 IITs and 1 NIT have been opened during the last four years. He said Higher Education Financing Agency- HEFA will provide Rs 1,00,000 crore in next 4 years. This is implemented under the initiative of “Revitalising Infrastructure & Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022. On the autonomy of Higher Education Institutions, he said IIM Bill has been passed, while Graded Autonomy has been granted to more than 60 universities.

He said that Budget for quality education has been  increased three fold under  RUSA – Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan. He further spoke about another initiative GIAN – Global Initiative for Academic Network aimed at internationalisation of education adding 700 professors from 58 countries have so far conducted 1,117 courses. This year 800 professors from 60 countries will conduct various courses under this programme.

Javadekar said the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) has completed 3rd successful year in excellence and ranking. It has become a benchmark of quality and creates competitive spirit among the institute. More than 4,500 institutes have participated in it. He said that under the digital initiative, SWAYAM portal has been launched with 1,032 Courses by the best faculty and  2 million users are benefiting from this Interactive learning programme. Online Library with 17 million digital books & journals are available under the National Digital Library (NDL) and 32 lakh registered users are accessing NDL free of cost.

Javadekar further said Research and Innovation initiatives have been launched with IMPRINT – I & II.  It envisages Public Funding of research projects on issues of social importance under this initiative.