Budget 2023: IIM Indore Director lists TOP 5 Expectations for education sector

Professor Himanshu Rai, Director, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore shares his views with Shiksha.com on pre-budget expectations 2023 for the education sector. 

As the nation awaits the unveiling of the Union Budget, the Indian education sector remains a focus of high expectations and anticipations. With the country boasting an abundance of youthful potential, skilling and educating the young population to make them employable and proficient is paramount. The New National Education Policy 2020 has set the stage for a series of educational reforms. As the government strives to enhance the sector in terms of quality, infrastructure, and capacity by 2030, the upcoming Union Budget presents a golden opportunity to elevate these efforts to even greater heights.

The previous budget saw the introduction of significant reforms and developments, including the establishment of a fully digital university, 750 virtual labs for students, and 75 skilling eLabs, demonstrating the government's commitment to leveraging technology to revolutionize the education sector and aligning with the vision of the NEP 2020 to enhance availability, affordability, research rigor and quality of education. Expectations are high that the upcoming budget will continue to build on these efforts and further elevate education.

We delve into the most critical spheres and facets where this budget may direct its focus to elevate and fortify the harmony of existing progressions in the sector, thereby rendering it more fortified and prepared for the promising future ahead:

Strengthening and expansion of digital infrastructure and literacy

The development of digital infrastructure and literacy, especially in rural areas, is crucial for realizing the dream of a Digital India. Fresh flows of funding and incentives must be made into programs like Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan and FutureSkills Prime. Implementation and audit taskforces must be built to accelerate and catalyze various ongoing broadband expansion and quality improvement projects. Private partners and investors in the telecommunications and internet sectors could be included. Investing in advancing various technology and skilling platforms for students and educators, like DIKSHA, NISHTHA, SWAYAM, etc., would be a welcome move.

Creation of a stress-free learning ecosystem

Effective education should focus on overall well-being apart from learning. The budget can fund and support counseling and therapy efforts for students and teachers dealing with stress. The "Manodarpan" scheme by the Ministry of Education can be enriched to better guide students with issues like addiction and self-healing. Schools could be provided incentives for expanding their counseling services.

Towards inclusivity in Education

The budget should focus on making education accessible and affordable for marginalized groups such as women, disadvantaged groups, and students with special needs. This could include allocating financial support to the Gender Inclusion Fund, increasing per-student expenditure for the differently abled, and replicating measures inspired by Jawahar Vidyalaya and Navoday Vidyalaya in place for special needs in private institutions. A task force could be created to audit and recommend ways to make school and college infrastructure more accessible. Adult Education initiatives should also be supported by increasing allocations to the New India Literacy Program for FY 2022-27.

Taking Higher Education a notch higher

Catalyzing the setting up of the Higher Education Commission of India to ensure simplicity and transparency of the system should be focused upon. Revitalizing Teacher training and development initiatives through incentives and expansion of courses and services like AICTE Training and Learning (ATAL) FDPs. Providing funds and rolling out a roadmap for accelerating the implementation plan of the National Research Foundation (which will be created as an apex body for fostering a strong research culture and building research capacity across higher education institutions). Making provisions for incentives and easing regulations for industry partnerships, creating sponsored labs and centers of excellence, work-integrated learning programs/courses, and other ways to strengthen collaboration with the corporate to bridge the industry-academia gap.

Attractive Investments in the Education Sector

Foreign universities set up in India can attract investments. The government has allowed 100% FDI in the education sector, but more efforts are needed to make it more attractive to global investors. The Indian EdTech sector has shown growth potential and has attracted VC funds. The budget can aim to boost investments and growth in this sector through incentives and tax rebates.

Despite an increase in overall educational allocation, it remains inadequate compared to the recommended 6% of GDP prescribed by the Kothari Commission, the National Policy of Education (NPE) 1968, the NPE 1986, and reiterated by the NEP 2020. The Union Budget 2023-24 is anticipated to bring closer alignment to this value. In light of India's current opportunities to emerge as a formidable economic and political force, investment in education is crucial to maintain this trajectory, and expectations for the upcoming budget are fervently high.

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