By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI: NCERT is a strong pillar of the educational landscape of the country. With commitment and dedication, NCERT has played a major role in shaping the future of students over the long term, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday while addressing the 65th Foundation Day of NCERT in New Delhi.
On this occasion, Shri Pradhan inaugurated and launched various educational initiatives including ‘Diksha 2.0’. Shri Pradhan released a book ‘Utkal Janani’s Good Children’, which is based on the lives and contributions of 100 great personalities of Odisha who contributed to the development of modern Odisha and participated in the national freedom movement. The Union Minister highlighted the contribution of NCERT in nation building in the last 64 years. Shri Pradhan appreciated the new curriculum developed by NCERT in the last three years, new textbooks for classes I to VIII and other teaching materials, especially Jadui Pitara. He urged NCERT to focus on education in Indian languages, development of quality digital content, education in science and mathematics. Making NCERT a research university will greatly benefit the education sector of the country and will help NCERT become a global leader in educational research.
Shri Pradhan said that NCERT is a symbolic institution at the centre of our country’s education system. It is not just an institution but a ‘knowledge-tank’. Since its inception, it has come a long way in nation building, especially through education. Shri Pradhan suggested that NCERT should be reborn in a new avatar and become a transformational leader, reform-oriented, technology-driven and focused on global best practices.
He further said that we have to build a prosperous India by 2047. The goal of a prosperous India will be achieved only when we develop critical and creative thinking among our students. In ‘Amrit Peedhi’, NCERT has to promote multilingual education to develop critical thinking among students. It also has to find ways to convert knowledge into skills. NCERT will bring about educational reforms and a paradigm shift in teaching and learning. Shri Pradhan asserted that NCERT will play a key role in achieving the goal of a prosperous India.
Highlighting technology-enabled learning, the Union Minister said that ‘Diksha 2.0’ is an upgraded digital platform, which is responsive and compatible with multiple devices. It will provide stocked lessons as well as structured text, adaptive assessment, and AI-powered tools like read aloud and text file translation in 12 Indian languages. Shri Pradhan also interacted with the students who are benefiting from Diksha.
On this occasion, the Education Minister launched many initiatives like the newly constructed entrance complex of NCERT campus, primer books in four languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi and Koya, PME Vidya Mobile Application, PM EVIDYA DTH TV Channel No. 35 for Balbatika, Virtual Reality Lab in four DM schools, Prashasta 2.0, Kitab Ek Padhe etc.
On the inauguration day, Secretary, Ministry of Education Sanjay Kumar, Chairman, Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti Shri Chamu Krishna Shastri, Director, NCERT Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Chairman, UGC Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Former Chairman, ISRO Dr. S. Somnath and Former Director, NCERT Prof. were present along with senior officials of the Ministry of Education and NCERT.
