News Update - School and Higher Education in India

NEWS UPDATE, AUG 2024

SCHOOL EDUCATION IN INDIA

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 Reforms: The NEP continues to be a significant focus in Indian education, with an emphasis on making education more accessible and engaging. There are ongoing efforts to achieve a 100% Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in secondary education by 2030. Key reforms include experiential learning, integration of technology, and clustering smaller schools to create better-resourced institutions. The policy also highlights the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy in early childhood education​

(India Today, Ministry of Education ).

1.Education Budget 2024: The Government of India has allocated ₹73,008.10 crore for school education in the 2024 budget. This increased outlay is aimed at addressing infrastructure needs, teacher training, and the implementation of NEP reforms. The budget also focuses on improving digital infrastructure in schools and ensuring that all schools have access to basic amenities ​(Hindustan Times ).

2.Challenges in School Education: Recent discussions have highlighted challenges such as disparities in school size and quality, retention issues at higher secondary levels, and the need for continuous professional development for teachers. The NEP’s goal of making education more inclusive and technologically integrated remains a priority ​(India Today).

3.New Initiatives: The Ministry of Education has been proactive in launching various initiatives, such as SATHEE, a coaching portal aimed at providing students with better access to educational resources. Additionally, there is a push towards integrating toy-based pedagogy for younger students to make learning more interactive ​(Ministry of Education).

These updates reflect India's ongoing efforts to reform and modernize its school education system, with a clear focus on accessibility, quality, and technological integration.

Higher Education in India

National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Higher Education: The NEP continues to play a pivotal role in shaping higher education in India. The policy emphasizes creating a more flexible and multidisciplinary approach to education, with a focus on fostering critical thinking and innovation. By 2030, the aim is to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50%. Efforts are being made to introduce holistic undergraduate programs and promote research-intensive universities to improve the quality and global standing of Indian institutions.

Higher Education Budget 2024: The Government of India has allocated a substantial budget for higher education, focusing on infrastructure development, research and innovation, and digital transformation. This budget supports the establishment of new institutes of national importance and provides additional funding for existing universities to enhance their research capabilities and global competitiveness.

Challenges in Higher Education: Despite significant investments, higher education in India faces challenges such as disparities in access between urban and rural areas, the need for faculty development, and the gap between academic curricula and industry needs. The NEP seeks to address these by promoting online learning platforms and industry-academia collaborations to better prepare students for the evolving job market.

New Initiatives: The Ministry of Education has launched several new initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and reach of higher education. Notable among them is the expansion of the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) to include a broader range of disciplines, and the establishment of the National Research Foundation (NRF) to support cutting-edge research across universities.

These updates reflect India's ongoing commitment to reforming and modernizing its higher education system, with a clear focus on accessibility, quality, and global relevance.

Compiled by

Chinnappan Paul

SkillBee Global