'New Education Policy is game changer, will shape the future of this century' says PM Modi

New Delhi, Aug 8: In an address at the ‘Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "New Education Policy (NEP) is a game-changer to empower students and it will assist in structuring the thought process of the students."

 

 

 

The Prime Minister mentioned that the National Education Policy was approved after extensive deliberations over 3-4 years and brainstorming over lakhs of suggestions. He said that the policy lays the foundation of the New India, the 21st Century India, the education and skills needed for the youth to strengthen India, to advance it to new heights of development and to further empower the citizens of India to make them suitable for maximum opportunities.

 

 

Giving the example of Rabindranath Tagore's and APJ Abdul Kalam, PM Modi said the purpose of education is to make good human beings. The Prime Minister said the country's education system must meet global standards. He said students and youths should strive for global citizens but at the same time, we would see that they remain attached to their roots.

 

 

He also stressed on teaching in regional languages as it will help young students adding there is no doubt about the fact that if children's mother tongue and medium of instruction in school becomes the same, they will learn faster. "The new policy lays emphasis on Teacher Training. I believe, when a teacher learns, a nation leads. We all must collectively work for the implementation of NEP, he added. There is a great emphasis on teacher training in national education policy, they are constantly updating their skills, there is a lot of emphasis on this," he said.

 

Furthermore, the Prime Minister said that for years our education system remained unchanged leading to lopsided priorities where people were focussing on either becoming a doctor, an engineer, or a lawyer. He said there was no mapping of the Interest, Ability, and Demand. He said there was no mapping of the Interest, Ability, and Demand.

 

The Prime Minister questioned how could critical thinking and innovative thinking develop in the youth unless there is Passion in our education, Philosophy of Education, Purpose of Education. He added that the NEP focuses on How to think as opposed to What to think being followed by previous education models in India. This will increase student participation. The policy would make the students future-ready and match the social and technological status of the world.

 

PM Modi said students will now have the freedom to switch courses and higher education is now free of specific streams. Saying inquiry, analysis, discussion-based learning will strengthen the education system. The policy would help the students to focus on coding, research, and technicalities necessary to make the students global citizens. It would bridge the gap between technology and education in India, PM said.

 

Moreover, PM urged that every student should get the opportunity to follow his passion. It often happens that when a student goes for a job after doing a course, he finds that what he has studied does not meet the requirement of the job. He explains that the prime focus of the New education Policy is on the multiple exit option available to the students which would help them choose their courses as per their jobs. He explained how many times a student finds out the course he pursued does not match his job profile.

 

Later on, he expressed confidence that in this Conclave, better suggestions, effective solutions will come out regarding the Effective Implementation of National Education Policy. In the end, PM urged people to work together with the determination to implement the National Education Policy. He said that a new round of dialogue and coordination with Universities, Colleges, School education boards, different states, different stakeholders is about to start from here. He urged to continue the webinar on National Education Policy and keep discussing it.