Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a webinar about the benefits of the Union Budget 2022 on the education and skill sectors. On the occasion, concerned Union Ministers and key stakeholders from education, skill development, science, technology, and research were present. The webinar was part of a new practice of discussing and interacting with stakeholders prior to and after the budget.
PM Modi began by emphasizing the importance of the young generation in the nation-building process. “Empowering our youth, who are future nation builders, is empowering India’s future,” he said.
The Prime Minister further elaborated on five aspects that were highlighted in the Budget 2022.
-Firstly, Key decisions have been taken for the universalization of quality education i.e expansion of education with improved quality along with enhanced capabilities of the education sector.
-Secondly, attention has been given to skill development. The focus is on creating a digital skill ecosystem, skill development as per industry demand, and better industry linkages.
-Thirdly, the inclusion of India’s ancient experience and knowledge of urban planning and designing into education is important.
-Fourthly, Internationalization has been emphasized. This involves the arrival of world-class foreign universities and encouragement of institutions of GIFT City getting Fintech-related institutes.
-Fifth, focus on Animation Visual Effects Gaming Comic (AVGV) where there is huge potential for employment and there is a big global market. “This budget will help a great deal in realizing the National Education Policy”, the PM said.
Digital connectivity kept the country’s education system going:
During the pandemic, the Prime Minister stated that it was digital connectivity that kept the country’s education system running. He remarked on India’s shrinking digital divide. “Innovation is ensuring inclusion in our country. The country is now moving even further toward integration,” he said.
He emphasized that initiatives such as e-Vidya, One Class One Channel, digital labs, and digital universities are laying the groundwork for an educational infrastructure that will benefit the country’s youth.
“This is an attempt to provide better education solutions to villages, poor, Dalits, backward and tribal people in the country’s socio-economic set up”, he added.
In the recently announced National Digital University, the Prime Minister saw an innovative and unprecedented step that has the potential of fully addressing the problem of seats in the universities. PM Modi called upon the Education Ministry, UGC and AICTE, and all the stakeholders of the Digital University to work with speed on the project and also emphasized the need to keep international standards in mind while creating institutes.
