By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI: To mark the completion of two years of launch of National Education Policy 2020, Union Home & Cooperation Minister, Shri Amit Shah today launched a slew of new initiatives related to education and skill development in the presence of Union Education & Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. The initiatives launched covered the entire spectrum of education and skill development verticals including areas like digital education, innovation, synergising education and skill development, teacher training and assessment.
Ministers of State for Education Shri Subhas Sarkar, Smt. Annpurna Devi and Minister of State for Skill Development Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar were present on the occasion. Secretary, School Education Smt Anita Karwal deliveredthe welcome address and Secretary Higher Education Shri K. Sanjay Murthy delivered the vote of thanks. Apart from the launch, the program also witnessed cultural performance by the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya and address of the gathering by dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Amit Shah said that while people see Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s National Education Policy in different ways, but he believes that a nation is built by its citizens and this NEP 2020 has been made with the basic idea of making talented citizens.
Speaking about role of NEP, he said that the National Education Policy will lay the foundation of self-reliant, strong, prosperous and secure India and this education policy is a means of reaching every child and shaping their future. Quoting Swami Vivekananda, he said that education makes a person capable to face struggle, builds his character, makes him philanthropist and instills courage in him.After extensive brainstorming PM Shri Narendra Modi has incorporated all these objectives in NEP-2020, he added. He also said that NEP-2020 is connected to the cultural roots of India and this education policy has been formed respecting the suggestions of everyone.
Among all the education policies that came after independence, NEP-2020 brought by the Prime Minister is the only education policy that did not face any opposition, he further added.
Speaking about stakeholders, he said that the National Education Policy 2020 is not just a policy document but a reflection of the aspirations of all the learners, academicians and citizens working in the education sector of India.
Speaking about role of mother tongue and Indian languages, he said that whether it is technical education, medical education or law education, when we do not teach all these in Indian languages, then we are able to use only 5% by limiting the capabilities of the country, but when we teach in these subjects in Indian languages we are able to utilize the 100% capacity of the country. There is a close relationship between research and the education system in the Mother tongue, one who thinks in his own language can do well in research because his original thinking ability is developed in his own language, he further added.
Along with incorporating India’s culture and knowledge tradition in NEP 2020, the way has also been opened to incorporate innovations, thinking and modernity from all over the world and there is no place for narrow thinking in it, he further added.
Shri Amit Shah also said that the main objective of this policy is to groom such students who have a sense of national pride as well as world welfare and have the potential to become a global citizen in the true sense. He also spoke about the 5 main pillars of this policy- Enhancement of Capacity, Accessibility, Quality, Fairness and Accountability. He said that the benefit of India’s knowledge and research should not be limited to India only, but the whole world should receive it.
Speaking about skill development, he said that In this education policy, a target has been set to provide vocational education to at least 50% of the students in the school and higher education system by 2025 which is a very important step.
While addressing the participants,Shri Pradhan expressed gratitude to Home Minister Shri Amit Shah for launching the initiatives under the National Education Policy 2020 and for his constant guidance. Shri Pradhan said that knowledge has always been India’s capital. He said that when the world was grappling with the crisis of COVID-19 pandemic, India turned the crisis into opportunity and came up with the futuristic National Education Policy 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Speaking about historical context, Minister Pradhan said that the National Education Policy 2020 is an antidote to the Macaulay’s system of education which was designed to colonise our minds. The National Education Policy 2020 is now India’s present and India’s future and is representative of Indian way of thought, he further added. Speaking about importance of education, he said that education can enable India to reach the pinnacle of success and the society is looking upto us with expectations and hope to make it happen.Our educational aspiration is not only for earning degrees and certificates but also to achieve global good, he further added.
