Published On : Wed, Feb 1st, 2017

Ten measures for education rejig in Budget 2017

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Education
New Delhi: Budget 2017 has proposed several revolutionary steps to boost the quality of education in the interiors of the country and make the youth employable. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley quoted Swami Vivekananda to show his commitment to the youth-“The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle for life…is it worth the name?”

Below are the 10 proposals which will be radically impact both school and higher education:

  1. A system of measuring annual learning outcomes in our schools. Emphasis will be given on science education and flexibility in curriculum to promote creativity through local innovative content.
  2. An Innovation Fund for Secondary Education will be created to encourage local innovation for ensuring universal access, gender parity and quality improvement. This will include ICT-enabled learning transformation. The focus will be on 3,479 educationally backward blocks.
  3. The government plans to reform the UGC. Good quality institutions would be enabled to have greater administrative and academic autonomy. Colleges will be identified based on accreditation and ranking, and given autonomous status. A revised framework will be put in place for outcome-based accreditation and credit-based programmes.
  4. By leveraging information technology, the government will launch SWAYAM platform with at least 350 online courses. This would enable students to virtually attend the courses taught by the best faculty; access high-quality reading resources; participate in discussion forums; take tests and earn academic grades. Access to SWAYAM would be widened by linkage with DTH channels, dedicated to education.
  5. A National Testing Agency will be established as an autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation to conduct all entrance examinations for higher education institutions. This would free CBSE, AICTE and other premier institutions from these administrative responsibilities so that they can focus more on academics.
  6. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras have already been promoted in more than 60 districts. Now the government proposes to extend these Kendras to more than 600 districts across the country. 100 India International Skills Centres will be established across the country. These Centres would offer advanced training and also courses in foreign languages. This will help those of our youth who seek job opportunities outside the country.
  7. The government will launch the Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion programme (SANKALP) at a cost of Rs. 4,000 crore. SANKALP will provide market relevant training to 3.5 crore youth.
  8. The next phase of Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) will be launched in 2017-18 at a cost of Rs. 2,200 crore. STRIVE will focus on improving the quality and market relevance of vocational training provided in ITIs and strengthen the apprenticeship programmes through industry cluster approach.
  9. A special scheme for creating employment in the textile sector has already been launched. A similar scheme will be implemented for the leather and footwear industries.
  10. Tourism is a big employment generator and has a multiplier impact on the economy. Five Special Tourism Zones, anchored on SPVs, will be set up in partnership with the states. Incredible India 2.0 campaign will be launched across the world.