Dharmendra Pradhan Urges Unified Effort for Competency-Based Education

Pradhan reiterated the NEP 2020's emphasis on education in the mother tongue and Indian languages, calling it essential for ensuring access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability in education.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called upon states to work together in building a collaborative education system, highlighting a significant shift towards a competency-based education model in the country.

Addressing the inaugural session of the review meeting of the Department of School Education and Literacy with States and Union Territories, Pradhan emphasized the importance of education in mother tongue and Indian languages.

In his address, Pradhan shared his vision for the next five years, focusing on the holistic development of school education across India. He underscored education as a key pillar of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat, urging States and Union Territories to collaborate in achieving this goal. Pradhan highlighted the progress made under the National Education Policy (NEP) in the past four years and emphasized its crucial role in transforming India into a knowledge superpower with equitable and inclusive access to quality education.

Importance of Education in Mother Tongue

Pradhan reiterated the NEP 2020's emphasis on education in the mother tongue and Indian languages, calling it essential for ensuring access, equity, quality, affordability, and accountability in education. He stressed that India, being a young country, faces the challenge of creating global citizens for the rapidly changing, technology-driven 21st century. Building a rooted yet futuristic education system, he added, is a collective responsibility.

Pradhan also highlighted the need for technology readiness in schools, advocating for a holistic approach that ensures critical thinking among students. He urged States and the Centre to work as a team, replicating and amplifying best practices from across the country to strengthen the education ecosystem.

The Minister spoke about the emotional connection students share with their teachers and the importance of capacity building among educators to make the educational ecosystem more vibrant. He also emphasized the need to enhance skilling capacities to improve employability, aligning with the shift towards competency-based education.

NEP 2020: A Progressive Policy

Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary praised NEP 2020 as an ambitious and progressive policy document. He highlighted the importance of improving the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) to 100% and including students from economically and socially backward, tribal communities in the formal education system. Chaudhary also spoke about ambitious programs like PM SHRI, inviting states to participate actively.