Union Budget 2022: Schools give mixed reaction to allocation of over INR 1 lakh crore

The release of the annual budget 2022 by the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled that more than 1 lakh crore has been allocated to the education ministry this year. Read further to know reactions of education experts to Union Budget 2022-23

Union Budget 2022-23: The release of the annual budget 2022 by the Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled that more than 1 lakh crore has been allocated to the education ministry this year. Precisely, the two departments of the education ministry, i.e. The Department of School Education and Literacy & The Higher Education Department got INR 104,277.72 crore up by over INR 11,053.72 crore from the 2021-22 budget estimates. According to the allocation made by the finance ministry, the department of school education and literacy has gone up by INR 8,575.37 crore i.e. to INR 63449.37 crore.

Various announcements including expansion of One class, one TV channel' program (PM eVIDYA), i.e. from 12 to 200 TV channels, Provision of supplementary education in regional languages for Class 1 to 12, Reorientation of skilling programs to skill, upskill & reskill youth. Digital DESH e-portal to be launched, etc. caught many eyeballs.

Following are some of the mixed reactions received from various schools on the Union Budget 2022-23:

Mona Lisa Bal, Chairperson, KiiT International School said, “The Union Budget 2022 announced today was a hit and miss for the education sector. While it has finally addressed and recognized the learning loss the pandemic has created, the need to develop the digital infrastructure of the country was not adequately focused in the budget. The economically disadvantaged students especially in rural areas have lost essential years of education and introduction of supplementary teachers was highly necessary. Supplementary education can help bridge the gap to a large extent. Increase of 'One Class One TV Channel' from 12 to 200 TV Channels to provide supplementary education in regional languages for class 1-12 is a welcome move but it will not be enough. It is important that we adapt our education system, pedagogies, and assessments according to the changing times.”

She further added,” Upskilling is the need of the hour. Thus, the launch of Digital DESH e-portal for skilling, upskilling and reskilling will be key to adapting to the shifting dynamics of our present. Setting up of virtual labs and skilling e-labs will be valuable in developing critical thinking amongst students. Access to high-quality e-content can help enhance the quality of education received by students. Making this accessible in regional languages additionally is a positive step towards a wholesome education. The development of a digital university to provide access to students for world-class quality education with ISTE Standards will be beneficial in the long run by making education available for a wider audience through the power of the internet. However, the much-needed increase in budget allotment for the education sector was missed. Further constructive measures towards digitization and resuming physical classes are needed.”

Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School said, “Establishing a Digital university and over 200 channels covering multiple regional languages under the One class, one TV channel' program are two very innovative and path-breaking initiatives which will enable students across the country to access quality education far and wide through the hub and spoke model. The development of quality e-content to empower and equip teachers with digital tools of teaching and facilitating better learning outcomes is a welcome measure to help children. With the challenges of the online learning arrangements, the government’s decision to enhance digital learning with E VIDYA will be a boost to the education sector. There was a necessity to train and build skills among children as this would make them employable and this has been addressed by focus on ITI’s which will undertake this task.”

Agarwal further added, “The digital gap has also proven to be a bane for the education sector in the context of the pandemic. Education plays an important role in bringing a change in society across generations and more so now in this technological age. Now the proper implementation is needed to take conducive steps to bridge the digital divide gap so that learning solutions can be easily accessed by everyone as it’s a critical need at the ground level. The overall focus of the budget has been to make education robust and responsive to students’ needs in terms of quality education in rural areas, skill development, research & development and employability. Going forward, more rigorous platforms should be developed and curated for students to learn with ease and discipline.”

Shweta Sastri, Managing Director, Canadian International School, Bangalore said, “The union budget has ushered in positive measures in the field of education which will give a boost to the sector especially in the context of the pandemic. A robust education system is a necessity for any growing nation and this is all the more important when the country is aiming to normalize education. The focus on digitization, bridging the rural-urban gap, making online education available to all children are all measures that are welcome. Two years of education regression for school-going children meant that we needed to double-up efforts to bridge education gaps. The budget 2022 for the education sector rightly focuses on upskilling and digital learning. The announcement of one class one channel and expansion to 200 channels under e-vidya will enable the reach of online education to a vast body of students where online education is still not widespread. The push to regional education is welcome as this will once again enable people in the rural areas to access quality education in their languages.”

“Another welcome decision on the digital university is that it will expand the reach of education to the masses as it will follow a hub and spoke model and emphasize the role of ICT in digital education. The focus on skill training by ITIs will also enable students to be employable in the future. The budget has addressed structural issues in the education landscape and has ensured that all children get access to education. The budget has also well-coincided with the opening of schools as it is important to reverse the learning loss among students. Education clearly is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and their future. The government must act to meet the needs of an aspiring generation that is looking to the future with great hope. Overall, it has given a boost to the education sector that will result in the nation’s progress,” Sastri further added.

Atul Nischal, Founder - Director, International Council for School Leadership (ICSL) said, “I am delighted that teacher training has become an investment priority in addition to building the educational e-infrastructure by developing quality content and creating channels for mass access. I wholeheartedly welcome the government’s commitment to digital learning as a solution to mend the pandemic-induced losses as well as achieve the goals of the NEP 2020."
He further added, "There are close to 1 crore school teachers in India who need to be supported with a minimum of 50 hours of quality professional development every year. Without the support of e-Learning, it is impossible to achieve this scale. As a next step, the government should create provisions for not-for-profits, such as International Council for School Leadership, to play an active role in empowering and enabling teachers in India.”

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