Anywhere access of knowledge: NEP has reoriented India's education system, says PM Modi

NEW DELHI: The National Education Policy (NEP) has reoriented the country's education system in accordance with the demands of the future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. Addressing a post-budget webinar, the prime minister said the education system was a victim of "rigidity' earlier.

"The NEP has brought the flexibility and reoriented the education system according to the demands of the future," he said. Listing the announcements made in the Union Budget for 2023-24, the prime minister outlined the roadmap for making India the skill capital of the world.

Highlighting the special emphasis given towards the youth and their future in the first budget of Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister said that this year’s budget 2023 strengthens the foundations of the education system by making it more practical and industry oriented. He also said that the NEP 2020 has encouraged the government to implement reforms in education with a focus "unburdening students from the regulations of the past".

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PM Modi said the government has launched and is focusing on tools to ensure ‘anywhere access to knowledge’ and gave the example of SWAYAM, an e-learning platform with 3 crore members. He also talked about the opportunity provided to students to study in local languages through DTH channels and said that many such digital and technology-based initiatives are going on in the country which will get more strength from the National Digital University.

“Such futuristic steps are going to change the entire space of our education, skills and knowledge-science... Now the role of our teachers will not be limited only to the classroom.” the Prime Minister said.

Throwing light on ‘on-the-job learning’, he noted the special emphasis by several countries and highlighted the efforts of the central government in providing focused internships and apprenticeships to give ‘outside the classroom exposure’ to its youth.

Education Budget 2023 highlights

“Today there are about 75 thousand employers on the National Internship Portal where requirements for 25 lakh internships have been posted so far”, PM Modi informed. He urged the industry and educational institutions to make maximum use of this portal and further expand the culture of internship in the country.

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The Prime Minister highlighted the provision of a stipend in Education Budget 2023 that has been made available for about 50 lakh youth under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme.

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 will skill, reskill and upskill lakhs of youth in the coming years. Moreover, tailor-made programmes are being made according to the needs of tribals, differently-abled and women through this scheme, he highlighted.

He further said that the focus on creating a skilled workforce for Industry 4.0 sectors like AI, Robotics, IoT, and Drones, will make it easier for international investors to scout talent without having to spend much energy and resources on re-skilling.

The Prime Minister also talked about the importance of the role and partnership of academia and industry in bringing rapid changes in the education sector in India. Three centers of excellence for AI and ICMR Labs in medical colleges and private sector R&D teams will be introduced, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said during the Budget 2023 speech.

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The webinar will have six breakout sessions covering both the skill and education sectors. The themes of the breakout sessions are PradhanMantriKaushalVikasYojna 4.0, Skill India Digital Platform, Skill India International Centres, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and National Digital Library for Children and Adolescents and Teacher's Training.