The Education Minister highlighted India’s preparedness for transformative changes in education, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The interview addressed multilingual learning, equitable access, mental health awareness, and reducing dropouts, while acknowledging challenges like faculty shortages and global competition in higher education.
Key Highlights
National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 Implementation
Described NEP as a blend of Indian ethos and futuristic vision, focusing on:
Foundational literacy and numeracy
Holistic and multidisciplinary learning
Equitable access across regions
Promoting regional languages
Emphasis on skill development to meet global workforce demands.
Despite political criticism, NEP implementation is progressing steadily across several States.
Higher Education Expansion
Second and third stages of NEP aim to:
Increase Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education.
Develop flexible curricula with vocational and academic integration.
Introduce multiple exit and entry points for students under the Academic Bank of Credits system.
Special focus on mental health, dropout reduction, and technology integration in learning.
Use of Regional & Local Languages
NEP emphasizes mother tongue-based education in early stages to improve comprehension.
Policy encourages multilingualism, enabling students to learn 3 languages effectively (mother tongue, regional, and international language).
Quality & Ranking of Institutions
The government has questioned the methodology of NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework).
Proposed revisions to:
Simplify ranking criteria.
Include international recognition metrics.
Ensure objectivity and reduce bias in rankings.
Role of Governors in Education
Historically, Governors played a crucial role in higher education oversight.
The Minister emphasized maintaining this role to ensure transparency and accountability in university governance.
Challenges Identified
Shortage of quality faculty across universities and IITs.
Balancing regional aspirations with global academic standards.
Managing state-level resistance to NEP reforms due to political factors.
Ensuring equitable education access for economically weaker sections.
