Chapter: Gist of Press Information Bureau Articles

Topic: Indian Education: Looking Ahead

Q. Why education in India is very important factor of growth?

If we fail to provide our youth with the requisite education and skills we will not only fail to utilize our demographic advantage but we will end up alienating large sections of our young population as well. This has made it imperative for us to expand our education base so as to be able to provide quality, affordable and merit-based education for the entire young population.

Q. What the core issues can be looked in providing education?

Three principles can be looked in providing education; these three principles are:

• First, Access: Providing access to educational opportunities to all who desire and need it;

• Second, Affordability: Making education a reality by reducing financial barriers; and

• Third, Building quality and accountability: That we are teaching what is relevant and at global levels and delivering good value for money.

Presently the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education is a mere 15% we seek to enhance it to 30% by the end of 2020, in real terms it would mean tripling of the enrollment from around 13 million to 40 million. At the secondary school level around 40 million students enroll in 9th to 12th standard every year, if only 10% were to enroll for vocational educational, that is 4 million as against the present 1 million seats this will mean a mammoth expansion of vocational education.

The Right to Free & Compulsory Education Act (RTE Act) that has come into effect from 2010 is aimed to ensure that these out of school children get the right to education.

Q. What is the aim of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) programme?

Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) programme has been launched for the purpose of the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of secondary education from around 50% presently to over 75% by the end of the decade.

Q. What is National Vocational Qualification Framework?

• National Vocational Qualification Framework is meant to meet the needs and aspirations of the students presently unable to pursue higher education. This framework would set common principles and guidelines for a nationally recognized qualification system, covering schools, vocational education institutes and institutes of higher education with qualifications ranging from secondary to doctorate level, leading to international recognition of national standards.

• The framework will be a competency based modular approach with provision for credit accumulation and transfer. Students would have the scope for vertical and horizontal mobility with multiple entry and exits. This would be especially useful to promote the creative genius of every child including children with special needs. Sector Skill Councils and Industry would collaborate in the development of quality standards, competencies, model curricula, assessment standards and testing procedures. Linkage between education providers and employers would be ensured.

Q. What actions have been taken to address higher education issue?

In regard to higher education, several steps have been taken to address the expansion, by setting up:

• 16 new Central universities in the various States, 8new IITs in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

• 7 new IIMs.

• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISERs) at Pune, Kolkata, Mohali, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram

• 10 new NITs at Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Goa, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Puducherry

• 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) up on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis , and

• 374 Model Degree Colleges, one each in identified educationally Backward Districts where

Q. National Mission on Education through ICT?

With the view to facilitate teaching resource sharing and providing access to open educational resources, the National Mission on Education through ICT to link twenty thousand of degree colleges and ten thousand departments within universities have been set up. The private sector is also contributing in this effort.

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