To facilitate the process of learning and meet the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement, Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani has said the government will soon disclose the new education policies, prepared after consulting people living in villages and far-flung areas.
The modified set of policies would be unveiled in 15-20 days.
"We have received suggestions from people living in 1.10 lakh villages and over 1,500 municipal bodies... we have prepared a document with the help of experts, including advice by education councils, to improve our education system. It will be unveiled in 15-20 days," Irani said in an interview to All India Radio on Monday.
Claiming it as an initiative that has been taken for the first time after consulting rural people, Irani said that taking RTE (Right to Education) to its real objective is the primary concern of NDA government.
"The previous government got passed the RTE but failed to make any provision for fees of 25 per cent students whom they have provided seat reservation in private schools. We made the required arrangements and have paid for the education of 18 lakh students after checking their records through state governments," she said.
While elaborating the measure PM Modi has taken to get education to every corner of the country, she said the human resource development ministry has digitised National Council of Educational Research and Training books from Class 9 to 12. All these books are available free of cost in English, Hindi and Urdu through a mobile app.
Irani also said the ministry will launch a web portal - Bharatvani - shortly on various subjects ranging from teaching to learning in 22 Indian languages.
The minister talked about the government plans to build 16 research parks through the Indian Institute of Technology.
"Work has already started on six parks. These institutions will impart vocational and technological skills to students through diploma and certificate courses. We will involve IIT faculty to teach the students," she said.
The HRD minister said the government had invited industry leaders to partner in these institutes and that private players have already invested over Rs 140 crore in setting them up. Several foreign universities are collaborating with Indian institutions under the University Grants Commission norms so that Indian students can get the best of education at home.
She said her ministry's aim is to ensure that universities are not used as tool for political purposes and remain temples of learning.
