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

Higher Education

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February 4, 2023

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

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Sheeba Chauhan, Senior Sub Editor

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February 2, 2023

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 the 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 Inc 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 Vinayaka 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-awaited 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, “The 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 Vikaas 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 of 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, 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, “Setting 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 move 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 Budget 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 Government 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 Youth 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, “We 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 are 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 the 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 focus 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 gives 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, 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-

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’s 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, 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, “The 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, “The 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

Corporate Updates

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digitalLEARNING Network

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February 2, 2023

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.

Despite 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

Interviews

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digitalLEARNING Network

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February 2, 2023

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

News

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digitalLEARNING Network

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February 1, 2023

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

Government News

By

digitalLEARNING Network

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February 1, 2023

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.

India in 2047 – The amazing rise of a modern nation

Article

By

digitalLEARNING Network

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January 31, 2023

Authored by V Pattabhi Ram and Dr Anbuthambi Bhojarajan, the book India in 2047 envisions how India would be in various aspects of life, profession, politics, justice, societal and legal – and governance. The book is written across six sections: Big picture, Rising India, Education and skills, Sectors, Happiness, and the idea of India.

It is quite interesting to note that the authors have attempted to capture the book with two other layers of support in bringing the Horizon of 2047. One is different professionals contributing to writing at an early stage, and these professionals are individually mentored by senior professionals in industry and governance. The authors attempted a different approach to research-based writing and acknowledging the contributors right from the content page of the book. However, I would have liked to have sections of the book indicated in the contents so that readers have an idea of selecting sections and phasing out the depth of involvement in this book. The book is not just fiction or imagination of the future but a motivational work for youth and children to dream of New India.

To bring more clarity, students may like to read some sectors where they like to be engaged, like agriculture, transportation, scientific research or technology, and the like section on Happiness. A separate pull-out of those chapters may be exciting. Similarly, professionals who have been in the employment market in the last five years will appreciate that education and skills are continuing and linked with the sector with which they are associated. Senior executives would like to see the big picture of rising India and understand and strategize their business to New India.

The book is recommended for readers between 14 and 30 years as they have many actionable agendas from the book. You will read about metaverse, virtual reality, IoT, and digital transformations. The authors may not tell you how developed nations, including China, will be in 2047. The book primes us to stay within the nations we exist, group, and compete with. Youth must be involved in the transition, which may prepare and motivate you. If I were to recommend, the book must be made compulsory for the target segment in education or professional engagement. Governments and companies must find means to develop an action item in each chapter. The authors might have made bold or hyped judgments about the future to win readership across segments.

Some compelling inferences include that politicians need professional training to be in politics with a service orientation and can never be a power game. The book looks at parliament functioning like a professional firm managing its business with clearly defined responsibility, authority, objectivity, visibility, and open book record for verifying and validating decision-making and governance. The book articulates the role of leadership, succession, and continuity of purpose. But the authors seem to have trouble handling sensitive issues like fundamentalism, secularism, and caste orientation. However, they are wishful in many places of the book for a neutral harmonious society. Will the existing position tilt towards the balance due to technological advancements, economy, and societal factors?

The author’s depiction of the future of transportation, housing, healthcare, and financial services is mindboggling and looks achievable. Even if we get to fifty percent of what is visualised, the world will have so many nice experiences to feel good about life. The authors, in many places, highlight the longevity of life, need to be independent and active. It starts with well-organised and agile brain. This book will make you excited and motivated to see India in 2047. Some of us have seen 1973, 1997, 2023 and understand how we have evolved rather than changed over time for the better, whether it is security, defence, governance, infrastructure, or utility. Worth taking the time to travel to 2047 through the window the authors depict.

Book review by Dr N Chandrasekaran, IFMR Krea University

To know more about the chapters and other details visit www.readwriteindia.in/indiain2047

Union Budget 2023: Education sector looks forward to a massive transformation

Article

By

Sheeba Chauhan, Senior Sub Editor

-

January 31, 2023

The education sector is on the path of a massive transformation. From upskilling, and reskilling to adapting to digital education– the sector is on the verge of changing for good. All eyes are hoping for some significant announcements from Union Budget 2023. A year after the all-time high allocation of budget to the education sector, educationists are longing for a mega-allocation this time also.

Investing in the education sector is investing in the next generation which will drive the future of the country. As per the recommendations of National Education Policy 2020, the education budget should be ideally 6 per cent of the GDP. Though the parameters are not yet met; educationists and teaching practitioners have high hopes this time that the education sector should be put in the priority segment and should be allocated a good amount.

Also read: FM doles out ‘digital gifts’ for education in Union budget

In the same context, Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network interacted with various educational institutions both from the higher education and the school education segment. Edited excerpts:

Jonali Das, Principal, Modern English School, Kahilipara shared, “The Indian education segment expects significant announcements from the Union Budget 2023 to expand the horizon of quality and affordable education in the country. Increased budget allocation, holistic training of teachers, special tax incentives, and facilitating e-learning are some of the long-pending demands of the sector, and it would be a welcoming move if the upcoming budget addresses them.

The education landscape in the country is also anticipating the announcements of new schemes for effective implementation and accomplishing the end objectives of NEP 2020. Furthermore, an enhanced focus on the mental well-being of students is the need of the hour. We are optimistic that the Union Budget 2023 will emphasise the overall development of students.”

Dr Maithili Tambe, CEO, The Academy School, Maharashtra shared, “Education needs a flip in terms of budget allotment. Last year, Education was allocated only 2.6% of the total budget. The percentage should improve considerably since the future of India depends a lot on the educational progress of the youth. The biggest expectations of the industry would be modifications in the GST on educational services. The sector expects removal or at least a considerable reduction in GST.

The education sector also requires the allocation of funds to safeguard the mental health of students. By setting up labs or facilities offering effective solutions to troubled students, the future of a student can be secured, and ensure the right mindset is nurtured in the student.

The government should focus on empowering the universities and lay emphasis on able-faculty development and infrastructure. Post school education, students tend to go abroad for higher education which does not serve the purpose of the education sector. According to a report, opportunities of USD 17 billion of potential revenue from students were missed by travelling for further studies. With better university education, that can stop.”

Naman Jain, Education Policy Expert and Director (Development), Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad shared, “The success of NEP lies in a sizeable fund allocation for the professional development of teachers at the public school level.

With the introduction of NEP, India is fast moving towards achieving its goal of establishing a world-class education system and drastically transforming the literacy rate. While the last few budgets have effectively addressed infrastructure building and teacher remuneration at the public school level, the need of the hour is to pay attention to the professional development of teachers. By preparing skilled and industry-ready teachers of tomorrow, India can accelerate its process of making its public schools the frontiers of Modern Learning. We expect a sizeable investment of at least 2-3% of the total funds allocated for the Department of School Education and Literacy in the professional development of public school teachers. As NEP addresses a big shift from mark-based to a skill-based approach to learning, the time demands extensive professional development mechanisms for the teachers of the New Bharat.”

Bharat Mathukumilli, President, GITAM and Founder, Kautilya School of Public Policy shared, “In the Union Budget 2023-24, we expect a budgetary fillip to be provided to all areas within India’s education sector. The budget committed last year to the education sector was 2.6%. The expectation is that at least 3-3.5% of the budget will be allocated to be spent on education, if not 6%. There is an urgent and important need to transform the education system. For example, modern tools like ChatGPT require institutions to have a strong technology infrastructure and skilled human resource teams that understand how to deal with this rapid change in technology. The government has the desire to increase the gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education to 50%. However, the institutions that are fuelling this growth are largely private institutions. On the contrary, the support they get is very limited.

“Speaking of intellectual capital, such as access to academic databases, journals and books, if India could invest in them at a national scale and make them available to institutions, it will go a long way in transforming the ecosystem. In addition to this, if low-cost funds could be made available to institutions committed to excellence, by the government, the institutions will be able to grow much faster.”

When we move forward towards the higher education segment, they have their own set of expectations considering the changing landscape of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India post-NEP and many other transformative moves in the segment. The educators from HEIs expressed their expectations from the upcoming budget.

Dr. V.P. Singh, Professor of Economics, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon shared, “One can’t expect much from the Union Budget for the higher education sector. It lacks the financial muscle to make any significant change. Total receipts of the government, excluding borrowings, for 2022-23 is estimated to be around Rs 23 lakh crore, and expenditure around Rs 39 lakh crore. Spending over 35 crore Indian households spreads it too thin. But, the government does have the intent to make significant changes. This adequately reflects through the policy changes and the rapid increases in number of seats for admission. The major spending has to come from the private sector and there is huge demand. Good B-Schools generally receive not less than 5,000 applications against say 240 seat availability, implying a demand of more than 20 times the available supply. With such supply, the higher education market is certainly a sellers’ market. Add to this the fact that last year 11 lakh Indian students traveled abroad for higher education. A rough estimate of the expenditure comes out to be Rs 3000 crores. Indian B-schools keep cribbing about the quality of students they get. Why don’t Indian B-Schools get these students? Are these students who travel abroad inferior? Should not be. Government has to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education to 50% by 2035. That is why it is giving approvals of higher intake in both offline as well as online courses. Are Indian institutions ready to absorb this demand? The government does not feel so and that’s why it is letting foreign universities open their centers in India. Instead of waiting for the government to do something it is time that the private sector gears for capturing the huge demand.”

Dr. S Nagendra, Professor & Dean, Department of Management Studies (MBA), Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru shared, “As we approach the 2023 budget, the higher education sector looks forward to a renewed commitment from the government to invest in the future of our students and institutions. With the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on our economy and society, it is more important than ever to ensure that our students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

We expect that the budget will prioritise funding for need-based financial aid, to ensure that all students have the opportunity to pursue higher education regardless of their financial circumstances. We expect the government to decrease the GST tax implications on educational needs and services. Additionally, we call on the government to invest in the infrastructure and technology necessary to support a robust and innovative learning environment, as well as support for faculty and staff professional development. The introduction of legitimate tax benefits to further accelerate upskilling within the country should be taken into consideration and should be lowered from 18% to 5%.

Furthermore, we hope that the budget will provide funding for research and development, to support the growth of new industries and the advancement of knowledge. We also hope to see an increase in funding for programmes that support diversity, equity, and inclusion, to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.

As a nation, now would be an ideal time to put mental health in the spotlight; this budget should allocate some amount on counselling schools and college-going students. A mandatory and effective counselling programme should be drawn to uplift children from all societies and backgrounds. Furthermore, the budget should have a stipulated allocation towards policies to promote a larger percentage of girls’ education, in the form of scholarships & tax exemptions & more, to achieve the gender-based targets as set by NEP 2020.

In short, the higher education sector looks forward to a budget that prioritises investment in the future of our students, institutions, and society as a whole. We stand ready to work with the government to build a brighter future for all.”

Robin Bhowmik, Chief Business Officer, Manipal Global Education Services (MaGE) shared, “It is important to understand that higher education in India is the norm and not the exception. By investing in the skilling and education of our youth, we will create a more productive workforce and a more inclusive and equitable society. India is a country where highly qualified young professionals often find themselves out of jobs or in jobs far from their qualifications and skill sets; what young Indian professionals need more than ever from the FY 2023-2024 Union Budget is the government’s commitment to increase funding and resources for these programmes, as well as partnerships with the private sector to bridge the skills gap and create quality employment opportunities for all.”

Union Budget 2023 steering up high hopes in edtech leaders

Article

By

Sheeba Chauhan, Senior Sub Editor

-

January 30, 2023

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, will present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year on February 1, 2023. The Finance Minister would be presenting her 6th straight budget, and several expectations are associated with the upcoming budget.

Education – the biggest catalyst to the development of the nation, plays a prominent place in the upcoming budget. The past year followed the recovery from the catastrophic pandemic, but now the sector is set to fly and bridge the much-needed gaps. As per the latest AISHE (All India Survey on Higher Education) report, the gross enrollment has crossed all-time high and reached the 4 crores + mark – but the question arises on the quality of education; will there be any enhancement to the approach of teaching practises in the coming years?

According to Indian Skill report 2023, we have moved from 46.2% to 50.3% which is considered a significant improvement; technology played a big role in such significant improvements. Now, all the eyes are tucked on the Finance Minister’s walk to bring fortuity to the education sector with the upcoming budget. Affordability and accessibility have been the two broken bridges between the growth of the Indian education sector. Edtechs brings in the platform that solves both the challenges to a humongous extent. The entrepreneurs or the Ed+Tech leaders are most anxious and excited to unfurl the canvas that the new budget will provide to them.

Also read: Education gets the “Big digital push” with Union Budget FY-23

With the same background, Sheeba Chauhan of Elets News Network interacted with various edtech leaders to know about their expectations from the forthcoming Union budget 2023. Edited excerpts:

Lejo Sam Oommen, Managing Director, ETS India shared, “Driven by a young demographic, India is fast becoming a talent pool for the world. The Government aspires to have 25% of the global workforce to be Indian by 2047, and therefore early-stage exposure to Internationalization is key to meeting this objective. The Union budget 2023 outlay must provision for ‘Internationalization’ at State and Central Government Universities, while also making India a destination for foreign students. Exchange programmes between global institutions and Indian universities will augur well for learners who are presently devoid of international exposure.”

Tarun, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Knimbus shared, “The Budget of 2023 comes nearly in tandem with the roll out of the New National Education Policy, and therefore the Government will be using this opportunity to accelerate some of the foundational principles of NEP 2020 which are Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability. Given that Digital driven access is the key theme of NEP 2020, Government should encourage setting up of a Digital Library ecosystem that can work in conjunction with Digital Universities that are being planned. Such digital content repositories will not just aid learners, but also support institutions and educators with classroom learning given ease of access to curated and authentic content.”

Roopali Mehra, Founder, Mytransform shared, “Education allocation in Union Budgets have conventionally steered towards brick and mortar set-ups designed to impact classroom learning and teaching. In the NEP year, given the strong focus of digital to drive both reach and equity, Govt. must focus on career awareness to drive employability. About 50% of India’s population is below 25 years and for this segment to make India a talent powerhouse, it must have the right tools for informed career decision-making and engagement. Provisioning for such tools, albeit with a public private partnership model, within an institution will enable informed decision-making skills in youth. We look forward to a budget outlay that focuses on building a career-ready generation along with strong education / skill credentials.”

Anish Srikrishna, Chief Executive Officer, TimesPro shared, “In the Indian Higher Education and H.EdTech sector, affordability and accessibility are critical factors. We anticipate that taxes on educational programmes will be reduced significantly from the current 18%. This will ease the burden of millions of learners seeking a better future through skilling and upskilling programmes, thereby influencing employability and employment.

We hope that the government will encourage greater private participation in its digitization efforts, especially where it concerns professional learning and skill-based education. Industry partnerships with learning institutions can help to bridge the industry-academia divide and steer our young population towards job readiness. Private H.Edtech players with experience in online delivery can help to accelerate efforts in content development, development of smart user interface & experience, and in the professional development of educators. I am sure our regulators will consider involving private participation to drive reach and engagement, to ultimately grow the GER to NEP target of 50% and of course drive improved learning outcomes. The proposed Digital Universities can be a great force multiplier in this mission and we look forward to an enhanced role for private H.Edtech firms here.”

Ratnesh Jha, Chief Executive Officer, Burlington English shared, “The Indian subcontinent in the 21st Century is emerging to be a human skill factory for the world. A robust provision to digitize the educational grassroots and to identify the ‘communication dividend’ ruling our population is the next big step to making socio-economic strides internationally. The linguistic demography of India is a unique and exciting trump card and if played well, expert English language augmentation to the native speeches can give the nation a fair lead this century.”

Mayank Kumar, Chair at IEC (India EdTech Consortium) shared, “India holds one of the largest youth populations and is yet to be considered the ‘Teaching capital’ of the world. The biggest growth deterrent here is the higher interest rates on education which make it an expensive proposition for students, working professionals, or parents. Hence, legitimate tax benefits will be instrumental in granting applicants with higher rebates and deductions in tax calculations while also making online education a household phenomenon. While NEP 2020 has created several milestones in the last two years, we now need more strategic and targeted actionable to accelerate quality curriculum and vocational skills by academic institutions/HEIs.

Strengthening of learning infrastructure across non-metros could be pivotal. Indian Edtechs have built strong capabilities to operate at low bandwidth internet which can enhance India’s literacy rate dramatically. We expect the upcoming budget to accelerate wider collaboration with Edtechs to serve a two-pronged purpose: (a) to co-create a curriculum across K12, test-prep, and higher education that stands at par with our global counterparts, and (b) to further scale quality education across levels thereby, also accelerating India’s GER ratio. These developments supported by GOI shall accelerate acceptance of online education while also strengthening India’s stature as the knowledge superpower and Teaching capital of the world.”

Minal Anand, Founder & CEO, GuruQ shared, “Previous year, many Ed-Tech businesses shut down or downsized, which resulted in numerous job losses. The government should create regulations that make it simpler for new businesses to operate. The government’s increased funding and support for internet ventures is one thing that is anticipated. Some nations will promote innovation and expansion in this industry through government assistance for subsidized rates and incentives for Ed-Tech businesses. Utilizing the allocated cash is important, and the Ed-Tech industry is more than prepared to work with the government to expedite the expansion of education in India. The government should give serious thought to reducing the tax on ed-tech goods and services. So, sure, we would like to see the government collaborating closely with Edtech firms to make this vision a reality.”

Piyalee Chatterjee Ghosh, Founder and Director, Myfledge Institute of Aviation and Hospitality shared, “India needs to gain a competitive edge over other global talents, which will only be possible through impactful education initiatives. Students from every corner of India should be empowered through special skill development programs. Increased allocation of funds and the number of centers will also work to the benefit of increasing the volume of talent ready to take up technical jobs.”

Dhuwarakha Sriram, Chief of Generation Unlimited (YuWaah) and Youth Development and Partnerships at UNICEF shared, “The much-talked-about demographic dividend of India, with over 350 million young people, requires concerted efforts by all stakeholders toward realising the potential of young people. The government, private sector, UN agencies, and civil society have been working on varied initiatives for young people. A transformative example is the National Education Policy, which is the right step in this direction. We need to continue to systematically work together to maximise the impact of our initiatives and build Public-Private-Youth Partnerships, with young people at the centre.

With the upcoming budget, we are hopeful that substantial focus and resources will continue to be channelled toward young people’s needs and aspirations. In the long term, these investments and efforts will yield results for young people and India. This will be a step forward towards achieving the vision of the National Youth Policy as well as the Sustainable Development Goals, while ensuring young people are able to make the most of the opportunities generated in the process.”

Aarul Malviya, Founder, Zamit shared, “With the 2023-24 budget around the corner, as an AI-powered edtech solutions provider empowering students and teachers with future-readiness skills, we believe the government should focus on the following.

First, the foundational infrastructure for digital learning must receive adequate impetus in the budget in the form of financial and policy incentives, including tax support and subsidies for private players who have taken the initiative to invest and contribute to this direction.

Second, given the pivotal role that the quality of teaching plays in terms of learning outcomes for learners, the budget should make provisions that would incentivize and help in improving the teaching pedagogy and methodology of instructors and teachers. The improved quality of teachers would not only result in students acquiring 21st century skills but would also make them adequately future-ready to face the challenges they might face in more tech and skill-based workplaces of the future.”

Harsh Bharwani, CEO and Managing Director, Jetking Infotrain shared, “According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, this budget would advance India and be on pace with Budget 2023. Additionally, several organisations have revised downward their projections for India’s growth rate for the fiscal year 2022–2023. The RBI has revised downward its projection for the country’s growth rate for the current fiscal year to 6.8%. EdTech business owners are proposing a lower tax band on educational goods and services in the next Union budget of 2023. They believe that high tax rate for early adopters of EdTech now prevents education from being more democratic at a time when the government is striving for it.

The current GST rate for products and services used in education is 18%. According to the Indian Edtech Consortium, the government should consider putting educational goods and services in a tax class with a rate of between 5 and 12 percent. The administration asserts that education is not for business and the NEP recommends implementing multimodal learning (new education policy). But when it comes to the GST that EdTech companies pay, the tax structure has not kept up with it. 18% is the typical cost for educational services. Others, including teaching aids for schools, are subject to a 28% tax. However, EdTech companies cannot charge parents since schools are not allowed to. India’s education policy and the GST system for EdTech are therefore at odds with one another. Hence, the upcoming budget is a hope for EdTech companies to foster in the Indian market. However, it is only time that will tell whether their expectations will meet or not.”

Sumeet Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, LEAD shared, “The National Education Policy promotes the use of technology in teaching and learning. The direction and guidance of the Ministry of Education, as per the policy, is to promote multimodal learning so that high-quality resources are made available to all students, irrespective of location or background. This can be enabled by increasing the penetration of digital infrastructure in schools and educational institutions. Digital tools and content in smart classrooms are key to enriching students’ learning.

GST exemption on the supply of goods (including TVs/tablets for digital education, currently @28% GST) and services (used for teaching and learning applications and content, currently @18% GST) to educational institutions and intermediaries can reduce the overall cost that is currently passed on to schools and parents. This will make goods and services for education more affordable and will foster the implementation of NEP across the country.

Additionally, GST exemption on the printing of school textbooks will make these books more affordable for low-income parents. For the same reason, printing and service of assessments/examination papers that are a part of the curricula in schools should also be exempted from GST.”

RCM Reddy, MD & CEO, Schoolnet India Ltd shared, “The last few years have seen tremendous activity in the education and EdTech sectors. There was a significant boom in after-school EdTech during the COVID-induced lockdown, but the in-school system unfortunately suffered. As UDISE 2021-22 data shows, the fallout has been a decline in the number of schools and teachers in the country as well as in enrolments at the pre-primary and primary levels. In the last few months, however, India has realised the importance of balancing in-school and after-school learning by leveraging the benefits of technology. Schoolnet, which has always believed in a holistic approach to solving the problems of access, equity, and quality of education, hopes to see a greater emphasis on strengthening the digital capacities of schools with a parallel vision to create an enabling environment to promote asynchronous learning for students at home. Analogous to the NEP 2020 and schemes such as PM SHRI, we look forward to a reflection of these priorities in the Union Budget 2023-24.”

Higher Education Enrolments surpasses four crore mark; as per AISHE report

Higher Education

By

digitalLEARNING Network

-

January 30, 2023

Enrollments increased by 7.5% from 2019–20 and 21% from 2014–15, according to the government’s All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020–21. According to survey results, enrollment in higher education institutions surpassed the four crore mark for the first time in 2020–21, crossing an all-time high of 4.14 crore.

From 1.88 crore in 2019–20, there are now 2.01 crore more female students enrolled. Since 2014–15, there has been a surge of about 44 lakh (28%), according to the survey data.

Also read: India’s first digital university will expand opportunities for higher education

Since 2011, all higher education institutions located in Indian Territory and providing higher education throughout the nation have been included in the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) conducted by the Ministry of Education.

The survey gathers thorough data on various aspects, including student enrolment, instructor data, infrastructure data, financial data, etc. Higher education institutions, or HEIs, filled out the data online for the first time in AISHE 2020–21 using the Web Data Capture Format (DCF) created by the Department of Higher Education with assistance from the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

In an official statement, the Ministry of Education said, “The total enrolment in higher education increased to nearly 4.14 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crores in 2019-20. Since 2014-15, there has been an increase of around 72 lakh in enrolment (21 pc). The female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crores in 2019-20. There has been an increase of around 44 Lakh (28 pc) since 2014-15.”

“The percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased from 45 pc in 2014-15 to around 49 pc in 2020-21. As per 2011 population projections for 18-23 years age group, GER has increased to 27.3 from 25.6 in 2019-20,” it further added.

According to the survey, enrollment of SC students increased significantly in 2020–21 compared to 2014–15, rising by 28% for SC students overall and by 38% for female SC students.

“Significant growth of 47 percent in ST student enrollment and a 63.4 percent increase in female ST student enrollment in 2020–21 as compared to 2014–15. Between 2014–15 and 2020–21, the number of students enrolled in Institutes of National Importance (INIs) increased by nearly 61 percent.

In the specialised universities related to defence, Sanskrit, biotechnology, forensics, design, sports, etc., enrollment has increased in 2020–21 compared to 2014–15. According to the report, there were 94 lakh pass-outs in 2019–20 but 95.4 lakh in 2020–21.

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