Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ held a virtual meeting with Director General UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay, in New Delhi on March 25, 2021. They discussed key issues of mutual importance including National Education Policy, India’s response to COVID Pandemic especially in the education sector, among others concerning India UNESCO cooperation.
Pokhriyal said that under the visionary leadership of PMNarendra Modi, Ministry of Education, Government of India, has ensured that education reaches the last child in the remotest part of the country. In this context, he mentioned about initiatives undertaken to ensure continuity of education for children across the country as under Prime Minister E –Vidya scheme. DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) platform was started to continue education for students (with internet access). While One Class – One Channel programme ‘SWAYAM PRABHA’ was initiated for providing education to children without internet access.
Stressing that concerted efforts were taken to ensure no lose of valuable academic year, he mentioned about Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY), an initiative for differently-able children. He also spoke about MANODARPAN, the government’s initiative to provide online psycho-social support to students, teachers and families for their mental health and emotional well being. This has helped over 12,500 Students, he said.
The Minister also mentioned that competitive entrance exams for almost 2.3 million students, the largest entrance examinations in the world, were conducted successfully and safely during the covid pandemic. Highlighting the crucial role played by Indian educational institutions during the trying times of pandemic, Pokhriyal said these institutions transformed the challenges posed by COVID into opportunities.
The Minister emphasised that Year 2020 will be remembered for National Education Policy 2020 of Government of India. It aims to transform the educational ecosystem for over 340 million students of the country. It is based on the foundations of Equality, Equity, Access, Affordability, and Accountability. It seeks to fulfill the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a ‘global superpower of knowledge’ and his ‘mission’ to create a ‘global citizen’. He mentioned that NEP’s aim to achieve 100% Gross Enrolment Ration (GER) in school education by 2030, and 50% in Higher Education by the year 2035 will bring additional 35 million students into the fold of higher education. He said that NEP-2020 recommendations are in accordance with the SDG Goal 4, “Education for All’.
To mark the important occasion of ‘commemoration of 75th year of India’s independence ( “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”), Minister proposed holding an event at the UNESCO Headquarters highlighting India’s journey through these 75 years.
Director General of UNESCO Ms Audrey Azoulay appreciated the response of the Indian Government in mitigating the challenges of covid and ensuring continuity of education during the pandemic by providing education to the students through different mediums of TV, Radio, online etc. to the last student of the country. She remarked that India’s response to covid was remarkable in terms of scale and diversity. She requested the Union Minister to share the experiences and best practices relating to education sector of India with member states of UNESCO. She congratulated the Minister for bringing out the New Education policy which is visionary and capable of transforming the education sector. On behalf of UNSECO, she extended full support in implementation of National Education Policy.