Transformational Changes in Education Sector

To strengthen education system 33 new initiatives have been taken and overall funding for education has increased from ₹ 67867 crore in 2013-14 to ₹ 110000 crore in 2018-19 by the Government, as stated by Union Human Resources Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, while addressing a Press Conference at New Delhi on June 18, 2018. He added that revolutionary changes have been made to provide affordable and quality education for all. Transformational changes have taken place in the education sector bringing in accessibility, quality, accountability, equity & affordability and have also given a tremendous push to research and innovation.

• Learning Outcomes benchmark student’s capabilities are to be achieved in each subject and class every year. This will bring in accountability of schools, teachers and students, as well as parents and will improve the quality of school education.
• 103 new Kendriya Vidyalayas and 62 new Navodaya Vidyalayas have been opened during the last four years.
• National Assessment Survey, World’s largest National Assessment Survey,  assessed 22 lakh students of class 3, 5 and 8 & 15 lakh students of class 10.
• No-detention policy: Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 is already tabled in Parliament,
• To address the issue of adverse effect on the learning levels of children as section 16 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 does not allow holding back of children in any class till the completion of elementary education.
• Therefore, in order to improve the learning outcomes in the elementary classes, it is proposed to substitute section 16 so as to empower the appropriate Governments to take decision as to whether to hold back a child in the fifth class or in the eighth class or in both classes, or not to hold back a child in any class, till the completion of elementary education
• This will ensure a continued study by the students and improve their performance.
• Swayam is focusing on teachers’ education, as14 lakh unqualified D. El. Ed teachers are doing course on this platform and 1^st year exam was successfully conducted.
• Rationalisation of syllabus has been taken up as 37000 people have given their suggestions to reduce the curriculum
• More time is needed to focus on value education, experiential learning, life skills education, creative skills and physical education.
• Samagra Shiksha: Budget will increase by increased by 20% in each year.
• Midday Meals: Scheme was being further strengthened by granting more funds.
• Every day 95 million students are served fresh cooked food at 11.4 lakh schools at the cost of ₹ 17000 crore per year.
• Union government is further strengthening the program by granting more funds for cooking, transport cost and also for fortification of food.
• Higher Education: 141 Universities, 14 IIITs, 7 IIMs, 7 IITs and 1 NIT have been opened during the last four years.
• Revitalising Infrastructure & Systems in Education (RISE) by 2022: Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) will provide ₹ 100000 crore in next 4 years.
• Autonomy of Higher Education Institutions: IIM Bill has been passed, while Graded Autonomy has been granted to more than 60 universities.
• Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA): Budget for quality education has been increased three fold.
• GIAN, Global Initiative for Academic Network aimed at internationalization of education:700 professors from 58 countries have so far conducted 1117 This year 800 professors from 60 countries to conduct various courses under GIAN.
• National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): has completed 3^rd successful year in excellence and ranking and has become a benchmark of quality and creates competitive spirit among the institute. More than 4500 institutes have participated.
• SWAYAM portal under the digital initiative has been launched with 1,032 Courses by the best faculty. 2 million users are benefiting with this Interactive learning program.
• National Digital Library (NDL): Online Library with 17 million digital books & journals are available and 32 lakhs registered users are accessing NDL free of cost.
• Electronic storage of certificates and degrees: Facilities have been made available under the National Academic Depository.
• Wi-Fi facility has been provided to all central universities. Nearly 400 university campuses and 10000 colleges are now Wi-Fi enabled.
• Research and Innovation initiatives launched with IMPRINT – I & II under Prime Minister Research Fellowship (PMRF) under which 1000 students with academic excellence are given 5 years scholarship of ₹ 70000 – ₹ 80000 and ₹ 2 lakh annual for doing Ph. D and research.  It envisages Public Funding of research projects on issues of social importance under this initiative. 323 Research projects are underway.
• Smart India Hackathon initiative involves open invitation to college students to provide solutions to the common problems. During the SIH- 2018: 100000 students participated with 400 problem statements.

Grand Final of Smart India Hackathon (Hardware Edition) was inaugurated on June 18, 2018 by Union Human Resources Development Minister, Prakash Javadekar, who said, “These Hackathons are good platform to showcase talent and will certainly provide jobs to your and innovative minds.”