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UGC to release draft guidelines for environment education at the undergraduate level

UGC to release

Draft Guidelines and Curriculum Framework for Environment Education at the Undergraduate Level are set to be released by the University Grant Commission (UGC).

Six of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are specifically related to resource conservation and environmental protection, the UGC has emphasised.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises the value of making environmental education an important element of curricula and increasing environmental awareness and sensitivity towards its conservation and sustainable development, according to UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar.

According to Kumar, NEP supports the attainment of a holistic and multidisciplinary education through adaptable and creative curricula for all higher education institutions (HEIs), which must include credit-based courses and projects in the fields of community engagement and service, environmental education, and value-based education.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg in 2002, drew attention to the deteriorating state of our environment on a global scale. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which offers a “blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future,” was endorsed by United Nations Members in 2015.

Also read: UGC declares Periyar University’s online distance education programmes invalid

He added that everyone is now aware of environmental difficulties because of ongoing issues including pollution, forest loss, solid waste disposal, environmental degradation, concerns about national security and economic productivity, global warming, ozone layer depletion, and biodiversity loss.

Six of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a direct bearing on resource conservation and environmental protection, according to UGC Chairman.

M. Jagadesh Kumar added that since environmental issues like pollution, climate change, waste management, sanitation, preservation of biological diversity, management of biological resources, preservation of forests and wildlife, and sustainable development are important, environmental education must address them as well.

In accordance with orders from the Supreme Court of India, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had earlier in 2003 released a core module syllabus for the undergraduate-level requirement of Environmental Studies.

For the Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC-Environmental Studies) under the Choice Based Credit System, the UGC also created an 8 unit module syllabus in 2017. (CBCS).

“The National Education Policy, 2020, which has emphasised the need to develop rules and a curriculum framework for environmental education, has led to the creation of the current document as a result of a UGC initiative. The document includes subjects to educate students about the nation’s commitment to achieving sustainable development goals and is expected to cater to students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds “said UGC Chairman.

Education Minister launches Yuva Sangam Portal

Education Minister DP

Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister of Education, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, launched the Yuva Sangam portal on Monday. The Yuva Sangam will concentrate on organising youth-exposure tours for students and young adults from North Eastern States to other states and vice versa.

Under the four overarching categories of Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), and Paraspar Sampark, it would offer an immersive, multidimensional experience of numerous elements (People-to-people connect).

Also read: Dharmendra Pradhan responded to students’ demand on 75% criteria for JEE Advanced

Pradhan said, “In line with the spirit of `Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat`, Yuva Sangam will strengthen people-to-people bonds, mainstream the vibrant culture of our north-eastern states and bring immense exposure and opportunities for knowledge exchanges, especially for our youth in the north-east.”

According to Union Minister Anurag Thakur, participants in this programme will be young people between the ages of 18 and 30.

According to Dharmendra Pradhan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking yet another initiative to strengthen the ties between the northeast and the rest of India. As envisioned by Prime Minister Modi, Yuva Sangam will emphasise the power of India’s democracy, celebrate the diversity of India, and reinvigorate the nation’s sense of unity.

He further said, “A unique initiative, Yuva Sangam will further strengthen the `Spirit of India` in Amrit Kaal.” The Minister urged the young people to come up, sign up, and offer ideas for the Yuva Sangam.

IIT Madras collaborates with ISRO to create an astronaut training module

IIT Madras collaborates with ISRO

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced their collaboration today, in order to create a training module for the Indian Spaceflight Program.

In order to collaborate on the use of Extended Reality (XR) and other technologies in the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, ISRO and IIT Madras signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This training module will be developed using Mixed Reality (MR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR).

To further research and development (R&D) in the area of extended reality, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will use the cutting-edge technologies developed at the Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XTIC) at IIT Madras, in accordance with the collaboration’s standards.

The IIT Madras and ISRO collaboration will result in outreach initiatives, visualisation and optimization of design architecture, modelling and simulation of human physiology as well as space systems, and training of ISRO scientists in creating their own XR systems.

Also read: ISRO has launched a series of free online courses for students & professionals

“XR Technologies has the potential to add value in many aspects of human spaceflight program specifically in shortening the design cycle and simulating the space environment. We will start with developing models of physiological systems as well as design optimization studies. IIT Madras ecosystem is conducive not-only for research, but also for development with our industrial consortium”, stated Professor M. Manivannan, Principle Investigator, XTIC-IIT Madras.

Technological impact on education increases interactivity and class engagement

Sarita Gomes, Head Principal, Marwari Vidyalaya High School (MVHS), Mumbai, Maharashtra

Mother-tongue as a medium of learning can improve educational quality by building upon the knowledge and experience of the learners and teachers, shared Sarita Gomes, Head Principal, Marwari Vidyalaya High School (MVHS), Mumbai, Maharashtra in an exclusive conversation with Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network. Edited excerpts:

Schools are striving for quality education for the overall development of students. What is your school doing to enhance the quality of education?

Maintained infrastructure, Pedagogy skills, Quality of teachers, Extra- curricular activities.

Proper implementation of a government initiative. Assessment and evaluation tools. Community building, Mission, Vision & Objectives, Program educational objectives, Student learning outcomes, Syllabus, Unit & Lesson Plan Outcomes. Teaching Methods, Assessment & Evaluation Tools , Customisable Rubrics & marking schemes, Continuous quality improvement , Outcome-based education & accreditation , Student Success, Constructive alignment , Presentation of outcomes with automated mind mapping.

What are your approaches to improving smart infrastructure in your school? Will it help adapt technology implementation in learning and teaching methods?

There should be spacious good ventilation in all the classrooms along with facilities like fans, lights, benches, chairs, smart boards, etc. Libraries, Playgrounds, Well-equipped labs, facilities study tables, chairs, furniture, and basic utilities such as water, electricity etc. study halls, multimedia room. There should also be facilities such as laboratories, art and crafts workshops, school office, theatre, and well- maintained sanitation facilities.

Yes, A very important technological impact on education is increased interactivity and class engagement. In addition, better overall comprehension, practical learning, time management, and combined learning methodologies are just some of the impacts that technology has had on student learning.

According to NEP, teaching in a vernacular language will help students learn better. Do you have any plans to implement the same in your school?

I agree, mother-tongue as a medium of learning can improve educational quality by building upon the knowledge and experience of the learners and teachers.

Also Read | Technology is here to stay and has already transformed teaching and learning strategies: Pratima Sinha, DSR Educational Society, Jubilee Hills

We are working on lesson plans where we can make easy way of communication to explain to the students.

What are the schemes and programmes, you are going to implement in 2023 to move towards an inclined curve for your school?

We are doing a little and we will start ‘Beti bachao beti padhao’ -concession provided by Indian Railways scholarship ,career counseling, sponsorship of fees for those students who are from minority background in our school. We are working on scheme for residential education for high school students in targeted areas and improving assessment as well. It’s a long list that I can add.

UGC further extends deadline for feedback on foreign university campuses till 20 February

University Grants Commission (UGC)

The University Grants Commission (UGC) announced in a formal notification that the time to provide feedback on the proposed rules for establishing foreign university campuses has been further extended until February 20. This would be the second deadline extension. The commission had previously prolonged it until 3 February.

The deadline for providing feedback, comments, and suggestions on the draft of the “Setting up and Operations of Foreign Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India, Regulations, 2023” has been further extended to February 20, according to a notification from UGC secretary Rajnish Jain.

Last month, the UGC revealed draft regulations and declared that, for the first time, international universities would be authorised to establish campuses in India. Additionally, the varieties were permitted to choose the entry requirements, cost schedule, and method of money repatriation.

UGC chairperson M. Jagadesh Kumar has stated that foreign universities and HEIs will need a nod from the UGC to build up their campuses in India, noting that they can only offer full-time programmes in offline mode and not online or remote learning.

He had stated that the initial approval would be for 10 years and would be renewed in the ninth year, provided that certain requirements were met. He had also made it clear that these institutions would not be permitted to provide any study programmes that would jeopardise India’s national interests.

Union Budget 2023: A major impetus in the field of education

FM Sitharaman ji

FM Sitharaman had some major announcements for the education sector in the Union Budget 2023. She emphasised the importance of skilled youth and their importance in building the nation’s development. With the same focus, she launched PMKVY 4.0 which will skill 6 lakh youths in the next 3 years. She also announced the revamping of teacher training for continuous professional development and innovative pedagogy.

To escalate the technology adoption in the sector, she announced 3 Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and 100 labs for developing apps using 5G services. Apart from that, she announced a big push for medical education and announced the setting up of 157 nursing institutes. National Digital Library was also one mega move that will facilitate quality books across geographies, languages, genres, and all other levels.

Post the significant announcements, educators and edu-leaders across the sector are enthusiastically quoting their post-budget thoughts. Here are thoughts of some major industry experts and educationists from the sector-Edited excerpts:

Mayank Kumar, Co-founder & MD, upGrad shared, “The Union Budget highlights theMayank Kumar- government’s focus on Care, Green, and Digital – three crucial themes that will continue to shape our economy. The good push on specialized education in nursing and medical devices, as well as the strengthening of teacher training, will help build a strong foundation for our healthcare system. Promoting online learning through Mission Karmayogi and the IGOT platform will further drive the adoption of digital technologies, even across rural and remote regions. Another significant milestone includes the focus on setting up more AI and 5G labs and R&D centres and the need for a skilled talent pool to support this adoption, which will drive the digital transformation of our economy. It will enable ‘Make AI for India’ and ‘Make AI work for India’ a reality while also pushing the growth to peddle significantly. Emphasis on the importance of Skilling and Upskilling in New-Age and Industry 4.0 Skills, will prepare Indian Talent for International Demand and position India as the Global Talent Capital of the world. We expect a wider collaboration between the government and TSPs (Technology Service Providers) in the coming times for ensuring our talent remains armed with future-ready skills and domain expertise. The budget’s proposal to provide stipend support to over INR 47 lakh youth is a major move to encourage skilling. Overall, the budget strikes a balance between caring for our citizens, protecting our environment, and harnessing the power of technology to build stronger and more progressive infrastructure for us. It is a stepping stone during the first phase of Amrit Kaal to make India a global superpower in terms of skilled manpower, technology, and business growth.”

Raj Mruthyunjayappa, Chief Digital Officer and President- India, Anthology IncRaj Mruthyunjayappa shared, “The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has recommendations that can set new benchmarks in the field of education. The proposal to set up Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in educational institutions is a case in point. Recognising AI as a tool to elevate our educational standards can be seen as an example that could be emulated by other emerging markets. The plan to establish Skill India international centres across states for our youth to tap international opportunities is another novel move. Continued spending on skills through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna 4.0 is also a welcome move. We need to continue the good work on skill programs over the next few years.

The government has also recognised the need to reverse learning loss caused by the pandemic and has expressed its desire to further encourage digital modes of learning and has increased allocation for school education by 8%. The proposal to set up a National Digital Library for children and adolescents, establish a Digital University, and the plan to provide training for teachers with an innovative pedagogy are further proof of the government’s commitment to raise the standards of education in India.

Overall, I believe India can become a torch bearer of new standards in global education and if we can provide innovative ways that can enable better access for educational funds, that would give added impetus to our growing reputation as a highly-skilled workforce.”

Prof. Dr. B. Sendilkumar, Dean & Director – Allied Health Sciences Vinayakasendil kumar Missions Research Foundation-Deemed to be University, Salem shared, “Amrit kaal”- What a broad spectrum budget.

It is such an attractive budget that has encompassed all important sector that requires immediate attention for a sustainable future.

The allotment of 20L crore towards Agriculture credit is sure to boost the morale of our farmers and to support them with the digital platform is a great venture. Another highlight in the agriculture sector is the Accelerator fund that would motivate the younger generation to take up farming.

Focus towards tier 2 and tier 3 cities for Urban Infrastructure through Urban Infrastructure Development Fund is a welcome move that would also ensure employability of many youth in these cities.

PMKVY4.0,Unity Malls, Tourism will pave way for betterment and improvisation of livelihood of Youngsters in even small districts. The allocated Rs.112898.97crore towards education sector would help in implementing Central sector scheme and projects of School education and will also drive Implementation of NEP 2020 in a faster and effective pace.

Overall the budget does look like being futuristic for the growth and sustainability.”

Prajodh Rajan, Co-Founder & Group CEO, Lighthouse Learning shared, “The much-Prajodh Rajanawaited Union Budget has provided some impetus for the education sector. The increase in the Education outlay to Rs. 1.12 Lac Cr is a welcome move in the right direction towards achieving the NEP goal of 6% contribution to GDP. It is noteworthy that the School Education budget has grown by 17% and I look forward to a more enabling environment for private institutions as well. The plan of a National Digital Library supported by e-content in all Indian languages will provide access to quality education for more children. Steps on teacher recruitment and teacher training through specialized institutions will help democratize early-year education in the country. Fuelled by the allocation provided in this budget, we now need to see execution plans for various progressive initiatives laid out in the NEP for India to move towards its educational vision of being a “Vishwa Guru”.

Prasad Pardeshi, Dean, RBK Educational Institutions, Mumbai, shared, “ThePrasad Pardeshi budget’s emphasis on addressing the deleterious effects of learning loss and fostering the provision of superior education for young people was a critical and long-overdue initiative in the educational realm. The finance minister astutely championed the utilization of digital pedagogy as a means of mitigating the learning disruption caused by the pandemic, thereby taking a decisive step forward in post-covid recovery. The establishment of a national digital library for children and the promotion of physical libraries at various levels, with essential amenities, to allow access to the digital resources, is a commendable decision taken within this budget. The budget has undoubtedly brought joy to the teaching profession as well. This budget aspires to elevate education and hone skills across the country, marking a pivotal stride in elevating the educational landscape.”

Md. Sajid Khan Director-India, ACCA shared, “The launch of the PM Kaushal VikaasMohammed Sajid Yojana 4.0 and the unified ‘Skill India Digital Platform’ for lakhs of Indian youth will help in a substantial increase in the quality of workforce, and will also open up a new range of opportunities for employment. The Direct Benefit Transfer under pan-India National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to provide stipend support to 47 lahks in three years will boost training, build the capacity of the apprenticeship ecosystem and provide assistance to support rapid growth.”

Col. Gopal Karunakaran, CEO, Shiv Nadar School shared, “I welcome the launch ofCol. Gopal Karunakaran Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 in the 2023 budget. This scheme, which will focus on equipping the youth with cutting-edge skills in fields such as AI, robotics, and 3D printing, is a welcome step towards preparing our students for the demands of the 21st-century global marketplace. The emphasis on developing soft skills and launching 30 international centers will create numerous opportunities for our students to gain valuable experience and increase their competitiveness in the international arena. Shiv Nadar School as an institution is committed to the mission of continuous teacher training, and we are delighted that our vision aligns with the budget as District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) will be developed as “vibrant institutes of excellence”. It’s part of the school’s strategic vision to give away books and opportunities to learn about all important celebrations, whether it’s rewards, performances, or celebrations of getting great grades or festivals. We are delighted that a National Digital Library for children and adolescents will be set up to facilitate the availability of quality books across geographies, languages, genres and levels, and device-agnostic accessibility. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of the different initiatives on our education system in the years to come.”Shashank Pandey

Shashank Pandey, Co-founder, ConveGenius shared, “Investing in AI is the way forward to make #Digital India a reality for all. Simple technologies like Conversational AI are changing the EdTech game by delivering the right information, data, and content to the right user at the right time.”

Vibhuti Taneja, Education Consultant, Founder- EDcel Consulting shared, “SettingVibhuti-Taneja up three Centres of Excellence for artificial intelligence (AI) is a laudable move that will boost the adoption of AI in education. It will enable edtech players to bring more AI-driven innovation into the existing pedagogies and develop scalable solutions across industries. Simply put, the initiative will go a long way in making education more accessible and engaging for learners, helping them become tomorrow’s visionaries.

Also read: Union Budget 2023: FM Sitharaman opens a gamut for the education sector

Also, the industry looks forward to the initiatives announced under the teacher training drive with Innovative pedagogy, curriculum transaction, iCT implementation and a continuous professional development survey and how this will provide a further boost to the education sector.”

Dr Maithili Tambe, CEO, The Academy School, Pune shared, “It is a welcome moveMaithali that the government thought of the pandemic effect and loss of learning and reading during the time by introducing the National Digital Library for children in order to build a culture of reading. Promotion of non-curricular titles in regional languages will also foster reading in students. The budget has struck a fine balance as far as education and the societal strata go. In order to boost education among tribals, more than 38,000 teachers would be recruited, thus empowering not only the 3.5 lakh students but also the teaching fraternity with job opportunities. The teacher training move will only further benefit the education sector as a whole. At the same time, in order to keep pace with technological advances, centres of excellence for AI to enable ‘Make AI for India’ are also introduced. The initiative sums up a well-rounded education budget.”

Puneet K, President, Narayana Group shared, “My expectations from the Union Budgetpuneet were investments in physical and digital infrastructure, cutting-edge technologies such as AI and ML, and the implementation of well-defined training programs to improve the quality of teachers. I am pleased to see that the government has taken concrete measures to address these issues across the education sector. The government’s decision to increase the allocation for school education by 8% is a positive development for the industry.

The establishment of a national digital library and physical libraries at the panchayat level will greatly enhance equitable access to high-quality resources. This will benefit students in rural areas, lower-middle-class families, and those below the poverty line. It will also broaden their knowledge base as envisioned in the Padhe Bharat scheme.

Improving the quality of teachers is essential to the successful implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP). The government’s decision to reimagine teacher training through innovative pedagogy, curriculum transaction and ICT integration is commendable. The establishment of centers of teaching excellence in every district will reduce disparities in the quality of education received by students in semi-urban and rural areas.

The government’s efforts to improve 5G capabilities for smart classrooms will further enhance learning through access to high-quality content and personalization. The Union Budget 2023 has taken the right steps toward providing affordable, high-quality education for all. I am confident that it will address the most pressing needs of India’s learners.”

Ranjita Raman, CEO, Jaro Education shared, “The Budget 2023 saw the Governmentranjita lay its focus on skilling of youth – students and salaried professionals, which resonates heavily with the work that the edtech sector is doing. The Budget specified that there will be courses provided in areas like AI, IoT, Robotics, and other soft skills, to steer the youth towards meeting the demands of today. At Jaro Education, we have also been striving to provide courses to our consumers around these new-age requirements. The Government encouraging the same goes a long way in putting it under the spotlight. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 is now being united with the needs of Industry 4.0 to align education courses that meet the needs of the industry.

The Edtech industry was hoping for support from the Government in the form of schemes and incentives for improving online initiatives. We hope the Government revisits GST on education, especially higher education and upskilling courses. The current GST on education services is 18%, which is for luxury items. In the current industry dynamics, such education is not luxury but essential and hence, we hope for consideration on the same.”

Dhuwarakha Sriram, Chief of Generation Unlimited (YuWaah) and YouthDhuwarakha Development and Partnerships at UNICEF shared, “We are glad that the priorities in the Union Budget 2023 feature Youth Power. The introduction of the National Digital Library for children and adolescents, provisions for teacher training, on-the-job skill training, apprenticeships, and the creation of 30 Skill India International Centres will help promote access to knowledge. The Government’s recognition of the post-pandemic learning loss is a welcome move. Emphasis on skill development with AR/VR applications will help young people prepare for the future of work and enable them with relevant soft skills. The digital and physical infrastructure, particularly for the most marginalised young people in the hinterland, will help build higher student engagement and interest, and make learning an easy process.

Muneer Ahmad, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, ViewSonic India shared, “Wemuneer are happy to see that the budget 2023 talks at length about decreasing the digital divide by introducing National Digital Libraries that will facilitate access to quality books for children and adolescents across geographies, languages, genres, and levels. Furthermore, the centre’s mission to re-envision teachers’ training through innovative pedagogy, curriculum transaction, continuous professional development, dipstick surveys, and ICT implementation will help boost the sectoral growth and knowledge sharing with the District Institutes of Education and Training set to be developed as vibrant institutes of excellence for this purpose. Furthermore, we are excited to see that the centre is working towards setting up of three Centres of Excellence for AI (Artificial Intelligence) in top educational institutes. It is a progressive measure that will help boost knowledge sharing and technology development in the education sector. However, we expected substantial measures in the budget for the allocation of resources for the development of technology in the educational sector. This would have supported higher investment and opened doors for new ventures in the industry.”

Nihar Sripad Madkaiker, Co-Founder iXR Labs shared, “In the budget 2023-24, we arenihar happy to see a significant inclination towards start-ups and skill development. The government is providing advantage to the start-ups by offering tax benefits by extending until March 31, 2024. This year we also see the demand for workers with digital skills is increasing in a wide range of industries.

We are delighted to see that the government has focussed on developing hundred labs applications using 5G services that will be set up in engineering institutes. To make this more efficient, it is important to train and upskill workers, learners and educators and this step will encourage employment.”

Rohan Parikh, Chairperson, The Green Acres Academy shared, “We appreciate therohan Finance Minister’s announcement of the Union Budget, which is constructively focused on a knowledge-driven economy to meet the country’s growing concern about education. More teachers and support personnel for the Eklavya model schools will be extremely beneficial to tribal kids, allowing them to access world-class quality education, particularly in distant rural locations. The establishment of a national digital library would also give children access to high-quality literature, boosting their learning experience and propelling our country forward. There is a defined focus on continuous learning and upskilling of teachers which is vital right now given that we are entering the digital age and it is in alignment with the government’s National Education Policy with the developmental goals that it has set up. Overall, the budget is a well-structured and a well-focused budget that will take us to become a leading trillion dollar economy in the future.”

Sumeet Mehta, Cofounder & CEO of LEAD shared, “The first Amrit Kaal Budget’s focusSumeet_Mehta on the quality of education for all is progressive and encouraging. I welcome the focus on teacher training and upskilling students with Industry 4.0 skills. However, while initiatives such as a National Digital Library and support for Eklavya Model Residential Schools are steps in the right direction to address the massive learning loss from the pandemic, well-designed PPPs are the need of the hour to create innovation at scale for millions of school going students in India. This will make high-quality learning more accessible and affordable, especially for students in small towns who lack resources; and will result in a long-lasting impact at scale. GST rebates on the printing of books, assessment material, and educational hardware can further enable affordability and access to high-quality, multimodal education in schools. Going forward, I look forward to policy support in this direction.”

Harsh Bharwani, CEO & MD at Jetking Infortrain shared, “Union Budget 2023 givesJetkingInfotrain the much-needed boost to the lower middle class and middle-class section of the society. Revised tax rebate is a celebrated move as it will give them chance to invest more in their children’s education which will help in the up-skilling and making them industry ready.

The two new schemes announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Make AI in India and Make AI Work for India, would undoubtedly benefit students interested in the subject of AI, since the new laboratories will allow them to explore their skills and become industry ready.

FM Shrimati Nirmala Sitharaman also discussed establishing a National Digital Library for children, particularly those in rural regions, scheduled tribes, and other vulnerable groups, who have lost two years of education as a result of the pandemic. With efforts aimed at digitalizing Indian education, this is a promising step forward for the country’s future, as it will assist pupils in developing their talents, upskilling, and reskilling.”

Dr Rajendra K Sinha, Professor & Chairperson, Centre of Excellence in Banking,rajendra-kumar Jagdish Sheth School of Management, Bengaluru shared, “ The Union Budget 2023 is futuristic and entails progressive initiatives for the Education Sector, which are aligned with Industry 4.0 requirements.

Considering the education sector’s needs and with its overall financial prudence, the Government allocation to the Education Ministry is at Rs 1.12 lakh crore for the FY 2023-24, of which the Department of School Education will receive Rs 68,804 crore (up by Rs 9752 crore), and the Department of Higher Education Rs 44,094 crore (up by Rs 3266 crore). Though this is the highest-ever allocation for the education budget, it is still behind the recommendation of the National Policy on Education to 6 percent of GDP.

The commendable initiatives in Budget 2023 are related to setting up of (i) three Centres of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence in top educational institutions, wherein leading industry players will be partnering in conducting interdisciplinary research, (ii) 100 labs for developing apps using 5G services in engineering institutions, covering among others, apps like Smart Classrooms, (iii) a National Digital Library for children and adolescents for facilitating quality books across geographies, languages, genres and levels, and (iv) facilities in select ICMR labs making available for research by public and private medical college faculty & private sector research teams for encouraging collaborative research and innovation.

Other ongoing focus areas relate to teacher training which is envisioned through innovative pedagogy, continuous professional development, curriculum updating, and ICT implementation, besides upscaling teachers & support staff recruitments.”

Prof. Y.S.R. Murthy, VC, RV University shared his post-budget thoughts in descriptive pointers mentioned below-Prof. Y.S.R. Murthy

Positive features: The emphasis in the Union Budget on teachers’ training, digital infrastructure, medical research and pharmaceuticals are welcome indeed. The establishment of 157 new nursing colleges will go a long way in filling critical gaps in skilled manpower in the health sector. The proposal to develop district Institutes of education and training as vibrant institutes of excellence will boost teacher training at a sub national level. The Government’s proposal to recruit 38,800 teachers and support staff for the 740 Eklavya model residential schools, which is serving 3.5 lakh tribal students is an important step towards inclusive development and social justice. Setting up of 100 labs for 5G services in engineering institutions will help in our quest to improve employment.

Areas of concern: We cannot just be contented with mere allocations. What is critical is to ensure that whatever has been budgeted and approved by the Parliament has been fully utilised. If one carefully analyses the budget documents that were presented today, the revenue expenditure under social services include expenditure on general and technical education. As against budget estimate of Rs. 53,382 crore (general education and technical education combined) in 2022-23, the revised estimate is only Rs. 50,638 crore. In a very high priority area like education, spending has been reduced by Rs. 2,744 crore, which is a matter of concern.

Financing education: The Union Budget for 2023-24 has proposed a 13% increase in allocation on education as compared to previous fiscal year 2022-23(RE). Health and education are critical components in the Human Development Index. The expenditure on these critical sectors is not commensurate with the needs of these sectors. It is a very important requirement, and it should have been prioritised. Education expenditure as a percentage of GDP has increased in a tiny way from 2.8% of GDP in FY 19 to 2.9% in FY23. 0.1 per cent point increase in four years is minuscule compared to the requirement of the sector. China and Australia are investing a great deal in education. India cannot aspire to become a Vishwa Guru or become a major economic power unless we invest in education. NEP stressed the need for the allocation of at least 6% of GDP to education, an aspirational goal for nearly one decade now.

Allan Kjaer Andersen, Director and Principal, Chaman Bhartiya School shared, “It’sallen k crucial to realize that teaching is a skill that develops through time and well-structured teacher development programs which are in tandem with the teaching-learning requirements of the schools. They have a great role to play in the student’s performance and development. This training is critical to implementing the visions of NEP. It is a positive outcome that the budget has prioritized the training programmes and plans to revamp teacher training.

Creating a National Digital Library for children and adolescents is also an essential step toward narrowing the digital divide in India. This will make information available and accessible to all languages and genres. This initiative is immensely commendable as this will act as a catalyst for building a culture of reading, creating age-appropriate financial literacy, and making up for pandemic time learning loss.”

Dr. Sugant R, Dean, School of Management and School of Economics & Commerce,sugant CMR University, Bengaluru shared, “The budgetary announcements towards education can be categorised into three buckets – skilling, school education, and research.

The Finance Minister announced the launch of PMKVY 4.0 and 30 Skill India International Centres to skill lakhs of youth within the next 3 years. She struck a positive note by announcing stipend support to 47 lakh youth in three years under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. The Finance Minister also announced the starting of 157 nursing colleges which will not only result in expanding the healthcare availability but also provide international opportunities for Indian nurses.

With regard to school education, the Finance Minister announced two initiatives – revamping of teachers’ training through the District Institutes of Education and Training and setting up of 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools with 38,800 teachers. Also, she announced the setting up of the National Digital Library for Children and Adolescents.

In line with the Government’s thrust on technology, the budget proposes setting up three Centers of Excellence for AI in top educational institutions, setting up one hundred labs for developing applications using 5G in engineering institutions, providing access to anonymized data through National Data Governance policy and providing on-job training on AI, robotics, mechatronics, 3D printing, drones, etc. through Skill India initiative.

The proposal to permit medical college faculty to use the research facilities of ICMR labs is a step in the right direction to inducing research capability among the medical fraternity.

While the Finance Minister has tried her level best to balance all sectors, the disappointing fact is, still the budgetary allocation for education is still under 3%, which is grossly inadequate to a country of India’s size and population.”

Prof. Rudra Pratap, Founding Vice- Chancellor of Plaksha University shared, “Therudra Union Budget, 2023 deserves a sure thumbs up given its foresight in addressing the existing skill deficit and thereby empowering the youth through a two-pronged approach of employment generation and simultaneous upskilling. The emphasis on aligning courses with industry expectations and demand is a sure-footed step towards preparing future and industry-ready students, something we at Plaksha remain committed to and share in terms of our purpose and academic orientation. The introduction of labs in engineering institutions shall surely catalyse more research centricity and help strengthen innovation. In a nutshell, the budget addresses a host of extremely relevant and carefully considered initiatives collectively poised to channel the education system towards improved quality and career readiness.”

Ramana Prasad, the Chairman of AIWS and Robotix India and USA shared, “Theramana budget was a great one for the education industry and a focused effort of the Government to align education with future readiness. An important aspect to make the younger generation become Future Ready is the creation of Centers of Excellence for AI. Three Artificial Intelligence Centers of Excellence will be established in renowned educational institutions in planned now and we expect more of them in the future.

As an educationist, it is highly encouraging to see the budget’s focus. The establishment of District Training Centres for educators will revolutionise both public and private school education across India. Setting up National Digital Library and Physical Libraries at ward and panchayat levels is like a dream come true. National Book Trust has been entrusted with developing a reading culture by publishing content in several regional languages.

This budget will ensure the implementation of NEP at the micro-level. At the same time, we expected some measures to support nation-building private school education. Overall with these announcements, we have entered Amrit Kaal in the true sense and spirit. He also cited that this is a great budget for bridging the gap between Education and Employment.”

Primebook Founders calling out iDream Education’s iPrep App as Content Partner for their Android Laptop on Shark Tank India Season 2

Primebook Founders

iDream Education is proud to partner with Primebook India, which designs affordable android-based laptops for students in Bharat. Together, iDream’s iPrep app and Primebook’s laptops create a powerful, all-inclusive learning solution for students. Recently, Primebook was featured on Shark Tank India Season 2 and highlighted iDream Education as their content partner, further solidifying their goal of providing universal access to education.

Let’s have a look at the episode

The founders of Primebook emphasised the importance of device compatibility in digital education. They explained how their android-based laptops would make it easier for students to access online learning materials and pointed out the affordability of the devices, which is crucial for students and families in Bharat who face barriers to education due to the cost of technology and location.

2 iDream Education content partner of Primebook India, Shark Tank India Season 2Despite government efforts to promote digital education and literacy, many students in Bharat still lack access to education due to cost and location barriers. With only one out of ten students having access to laptops, it is clear that more needs to be done to address these issues and make education accessible to all.

But, how do we achieve this?

To this, Chitranshu Mahant, other Co-Founders of Primebook Aman Verma (CMO), Umang Leekha (CTO), and Pankaj Rawat (Business Head) said it is essential to provide solutions that students are comfortable and familiar with. It brings the need for a new category of laptops in the education system: Android laptops. Chitranshu Mahant (CEO of Primebook India) further emphasised the significance of building a system that aligns with the android application to provide students with an easy and seamless learning experience. In this statement, they highlighted the digital content provided by iDream Education through the android app (iPrep), which works seamlessly offline and online on primebooks. Together, Primebook and iPrep by iDream Education make a strong value proposition as an all-inclusive learning device for students.

The Sharks on Shark Tank India Season 2 were impressed with Primebook’s emphasis on device compatibility and the potential for the product in the education market. They acknowledged the growing importance of hardware and software partners in education. They recognised the solution for its uniqueness, accessibility, and affordability for students in the most remote regions of India.

In conclusion, the partnership between Primebook and iDream Education is an excellent example of how device and platform compatibility can drive growth in the education market. As more companies recognise the importance of this aspect, it will lead to more effective and efficient learning experiences for students. With Primebook’s android-based laptops and iDream Education’s iPrep app, the potential for students in Bharat is limitless.

Technology is here to stay and has already transformed teaching and learning strategies: Pratima Sinha, DSR Educational Society, Jubilee Hills

pratima

The use of Heutagogy concepts made the students independent and self-learners, they understood their strengths and weakness and worked accordingly. Student Led Conferences, Self reflective Projects, and problem-solving activities gave the students a great platform to learn at his/her own pace but with a clear understanding of the topic says Pratima Sinha, CEO, DSR Educational Society, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad in an interview with Nidhi Shail Kujur of Elets News Network (ENN). Edited excerpts:

Tell us about your achievements in terms of ‘Innovation in Education’ during the year 2022.

The year 2022 has been a very dynamic year as the educational institutes reopened after a long heist. The teachers and the students were going to interact with each other offline. The Schools witnessed Socio-Emotional issues at all levels. This was the time for new strategies and innovations to be adapted to hold the interest of the students and ensure the filling of learning gaps. We adopted the pedagogy of Heutagogy which is about self-determined learning where the student discovers their own problems and questions and find his or her own answers based on self-research. The use of Heutagogy concepts made the students independent and self-learners, they understood their strengths and weakness and worked accordingly. Students Led Conferences, Self reflective Projects, problem solving activities gave the students a great platform to learn at his/ her own pace but with a clear understanding of the topic. Integration of visual and performing art forms and life skills in the curriculum also gave an overall boost to the teaching-learning objective.

How will futuristic technologies transform education in the year 2023?

Technology is here to stay and has already transformed teaching and learning strategies to the next level. The student is not just restricted within the four walls of the classroom. Teachers are very comfortable using technology and are constantly experimenting with better use to keep up with the native users of technology. Whether it is augmented reality, 3-D effects, interaction with schools across the world, research-based assessments, conducting sessions, availability of resources, virtual visits and field trips and so on, technology has opened many exciting doors for the education community.

What are the innovations that accelerated the transformation of growth in the education landscape in the year 2022?

Change is inevitable and static, an accelerated change and development have been observed this year. Stalwarts in education understood the priorities and the importance of using technology that is digital learning in classroom teaching. It was understood the need for revamping the old system and giving a new dimension to the education system. Schools are using technology innovatively through various software available to create a very tech-savvy learning environment for students. Students have been given the center stage and based on his/her learning style, learning potential, strengths and weaknesses differentiated teaching learning objectives are being proposed.

With new job profiles that may come up in near future, the education that is being imparted should be able to support and make the student confident to face the future.

Union Budget 2023: FM Sitharaman opens a gamut for the education sector

FM Sitharaman

Union Budget 2023 adopts 7 priorities – Inclusive development, reaching last mile infrastructure & investment, unleashing potential, green growth, youth power, and financial sector. Here are the top highlights announced by Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, today.

PMKVY 4.0, 30 skill India international centres- To empower youth and help them realise their dream. PMKVY 4.0 will be launched to skill lakhs of youths within the next 3 years, Sitharaman announced, adding 30 skill India international centres across states. New age courses for industry 4.0 in several skills such as robotics, coding, drones and other soft skills.

157 new Nursing colleges- One hundred and fifty-seven new Nursing colleges will be established in core areas, FM Sitharaman has announced.

National Digital Library- one-stop learning solution- A National Digital Library for children and adolescents will be set up for facilitating quality books across geographies, languages, genres and all other level. States will be encouraged to set up libraries for them at panchayat and ward levels and provide infrastructure for accessing the National Digital Library resources: FM Sitharaman.

Non-curricular books in regional languages- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that National Child Trust, Children’s Book Trust and other sources to be encouraged to provide and replenish non-curricular titles in regional languages and English, to these libraries; collaboration with NGOs working in literacy also to be done

Select ICMR labs to be opened for public- Facilities in select ICMR labs to be made available for research by public and private medical college faculty, private sector research teams for encouraging collaborative research and innovation: FM Nirmala Sitharaman.

3 Centres of Excellence for AI- Three centres of excellence in Artificial Intelligence will be set up in top educational institutions. Leading industry players will partner in conducting interdisciplinary research, develop cutting-edge applications and salable problem solutions in the areas of health, agriculture and sustainable cities.

Impetus on agri startups- Agriculture Accelerator Fund to be set up to encourage agri startups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas, will bring innovative and affordable solutions for farmers’ challenges, will also enhance profitability and bring modern tech: FM Nirmala Sitharaman in budget speech.

100 labs for developing apps using 5G services- 100 labs for developing apps using 5G services will be set up in engineering institutions. These labs will cover among others, apps like Smart Classrooms, Precision Farming, Intelligent & Transports Systems.

Also read: Sitharaman: Top 100 universities to start online courses

Teacher Training will be revamped- Teacher training will be envisioned through innovative pedagogy, continuous professional development, curriculum transaction and ICT implementation. The district institutes of education and training will be established into vibrant institutes of excellence for this purpose announced Sitharaman.

Strong focus on growth and job creation- “Economic agenda for our vision focuses on

1) facilitating opportunities for citizens
2) providing strong impetus to growth and job creation
3) strengthening macroeconomic stability.

38,000 teachers for EMRS- As many as 38,000 teachers and support staff to be recruited in the next 3 years, for 740 Eklavya Model Residential Schools serving 3.5 lakh tribal students, Nirmala Sitharaman announced.

Economic Survey 2022-23: Improved gender parity, steady decline in drop-out rate

Economic Survey 2022-23

According to the survey tabled by Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union finance minister, presented in Parliament on Tuesday, the financial year 2021–2022 (FY22) saw improvements in student-teacher ratios, an increase in basic school infrastructure, and gender parity in enrollment.

An additional 194 million students were enrolled in schools nationwide during the financial year 2022, and at the same time, the drop-out rate saw a “steady fall,” according to the economic survey 2022–23.

The survey found that there were 265 million students enrolled in schools nationwide, with an additional 194 million students enrolled in primary to higher secondary levels. There were roughly 10 million pre-primary (pre-nursery, nursery, and kindergarten) students, 122 million primary (classes first to fifth), 67 million upper primary (classes sixth to eighth), 39 million secondary (classes 9 and 10) students, and 29 million higher secondary students (classes 11 and 12).

With the exception of pre-primary, enrollment has increased throughout the board. According to the survey, enrollment at the pre-primary level decreased from 1.1 crore [11 million] in 2021 to 1.0 crore [10 million] in 2022.

According to the survey, schools at all levels showed an improvement in their gross enrollment ratios (GER) for the fiscal year 2021–22. “The GER in the primary enrollment in classes I to fifth as a percentage of the population between the ages of 6 and 10 years has improved in FY 22 for both boys and girls. This improvement has reversed the falling patterns between FY17 and FY19. The survey found that at the upper primary and primary levels, girls’ GER is better than boys”, according to the survey.

For instance, 102.1% boys and 104.8% girls were enrolled in primary school in 2021–2022. It represented a rise from 2020–21, when 102.2% boys and 104.5% girls were enrolled. Identical tendencies have also been seen at the upper primary level. 94.9% of females and 94.5% of boys were enrolled in 2021–2022 respectively. In 2020–21, this was 92.7% for females and 91.6% for boys, respectively.

From 39 million students in FY20 to nearly 41 million in FY21, more people are enrolled in higher education. The number of students enrolled has increased by over 7.2 million since FY15, or about 20%. The female enrollment has climbed to 20 million in FY21 from 19 million in FY20″, said the survey.

A rise in the GER in higher education was also noted by the survey. “The GER in higher education was recorded at 27.3 in FY21, which is an increase from 25.6 in FY20, and is based on 2011 population forecasts (updated). The GER for men went up from 24.8 in FY20 to 26.7 in FY21, and the GER for women went up from 26.4 to 27.9 over the same time period”, it stated.

According to the report, school dropout rates at all levels have been “steadily declining” from 14% in 2020–21 to 12.6% in 2021–22.

The survey emphasised that government programmes like Samagra Shiksha and the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009, improvements in school facilities and infrastructure, residential hostel buildings, availability of teachers, regular training of teachers, free textbooks, uniforms for kids, and the PM POSHAN Scheme all played a significant role in boosting enrollments and keeping students in school.

Also noted was the fact that enrollment in distant learning increased by 20% since FY15 and 7% from FY20 to FY21-22 in India.

Also read: 85% of children in India have experienced cyberbullying: Survey

According to the survey, “basic amenities in schools continued to improve in FY22 compared to preceding years, with the exception of medical check-ups in schools since the schools remained physically closed in the wake of Covid-19 limitations.”

The assessment found a significant improvement in terms of fundamental school amenities including restrooms (for ladies or boys), drinking water, hand-washing stations, and digitization. For instance, the percentage of schools with internet access climbed from 24.5% in 2020–21 to 33.9% in 2021–22.

The survey identified the student ratio as an indicator that is inversely connected to the development in educational quality and found that it has improved continuously at all levels between FY13 and FY22.

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