Vinayak Barot
NEW DELHI, Sep 7: The prime minister Narendra Modi has advocated for least interference by the central, states and the local level government bodies in the educational affairs in the country though the responsibility of imparting education lie with these bodies.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Governors’ Conference on the National Education Policy on Monday, Modi said the relevance and comprehensiveness of the education policy would increase only when more and more teachers, parents and students get associated with it.
The virtual conference was presided by the President of India Ram Nath Kovind, and attended among others by the Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank the Governors & Lt. Governors of various states, UTs & Vice Chancellors of all the State Universities.
Emphasising that the new education policy focused on Learning rather than Studying and go beyond Curriculum stressing on Critical Thinking, Modi said the policy aimed at making the youth future ready in a fast changing scenario. He said this policy was designed to prepare the youth of the country on both fronts with knowledge and skills as per the requirements of the future. Describing students as the “power house of the nation,” he said “NEP shows a way to empower the students and this policy will provide a new direction to the country’s social and economic development”
The Prime Minister said Education policy and education system were important means of fulfilling the aspirations of the country. Pointing out that the New Education Policy was drafted after receiving feedback from millions of people living in the city and villages in the country and from those related to the education sector, he said “now everyone including teachers and educationists are owning-up the policy.”
He said he was happy that the new policy had received all-round acceptance from all quarters and generated a feeling that the reforms should had been introduced in the previous education policy itself. He appreciated that there was a healthy debate on the policy and that it was necessary as the NEP was not only directed at reforming the education system but also at giving a new direction to the social and economic fabric of 21st century India by making the country “a Knowledge Economy.” He said the policy also aimed at making India Self- Reliant (AatmaNirbhar).
Modi said the new policy also allow for offshore campuses of the top international universities in India which would address the issue of Brain Drain.
The PM said the process was on to discuss how to implement the new policy for which the suggestions of all the stakeholders were being heard with an open mind to resolve all apprehensions. He said this education policy was not the education policy of the government but “the education policy of the country” providing for rapidly changing time. He said technology was providing a level playing field in addressing the regional and social imbalance and was having a great impact on education.
Giving a call for implementing the NEP-2020 “in letter and spirit,” Modi said efforts were being made to ensure that every aspect of higher education- academic, technical, vocational etc be taken out of silos.