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New Delhi : Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal‘Nishank’ replied to the discussion on the demand for Grants of Ministry of Education for Year 2021-22, in Lok Sabha on March 16, 2021.
Speaking on National Education Policy 2020, Pokhriyal said NEP will build strong foundations for an Atmanirbhar Bharat and help India claim its status as a Vishwaguru. Pokhriyal emphasised that NEP was formulated after holding wider consultations with every stakeholders including teachers, students, academicians, and parents, among others.
The Minister said that NEP is national, international, impactful, interactive, innovative, and inclusive and is based on firm foundations of equity, quality, and accessibility. He spoke about features of NEP 2020 which includes imparting vocational education from class 6 onwards, Progress Card in place of report card, 5+3+3+4 structure, multidisciplinary education with easy entry/exit options and academic bank of credit. Pokhriyal also added that several countries have acknowledged NEP as the biggest reform of the world, according to a PIB release.
Speaking on the Budget allocation for Education for year 2021-22, Pokhriyal said that for Department of School Education and literacy, total budget allocation in BE 2021-22 is Rs 54873.66 crore, an increase of Rs 2,684.59 crore as compared to RE Budget allocation in 2020-21. For Department of Higher Education, the total Budget allocation in BE 2021-22 is Rs. 38350.65 crore, an increase of Rs. 5450.65 crore as compared to RE Budget allocation for the year 2020-21. Speaking about Government’s impetus on boosting research and innovation, he mentioned about National Research Foundation. He also said that there is a shift from package culture to patent culture among students now.
Enumerating initiative and efforts made by the government to ensure continuity of education during challenging times of covid, Pokhriyal said education was provided via Online and Digital mediums through Swayam, SwayamPrabha, E Pathshala, DIKSHA. He also mentioned that Manodarpan Portal was launched to provide 24*7 counselling services to the students. Board Exams and competitive exams (JEE and NEET) were conducted successfully, he added.
Pokhriyal also highlighted that in year 2019-20, 8.19 lakh students were being provided education through IGNOU, while the figure was 3.98 lakh students in year 2013-14. Number of Research Scholars in Higher Education in the year 2019-20 stood at 2.02 lakh while it was 1.07 lakh in year 2013-14, he added.