'Quality Education Will Energise Our Youth'

The 'E' of TEC India aims to "Energise various sections of societies especially the youth and the vulnerable and enable them to unleash their true potential"

Skill education, improving quality and access through technology is the call of education sector in budget 2017-18.

The immense emphasis on infrastructure development in rural areas, increased budget in railway and manufacturing definitely calls for more skill development in all sectors. In lieu of this, FM mentioned about the "increased funds to 4500 crore under the Deen Dayal Antoday Yojana under National Rural Livlihood Mission for the skill development of rural people. Prime Minister's Employment Generation and Credit Support Schemes have also been tripled." He added in context to the rural infrastructure that "the government aims to train 5 lakh masons by 2022, 20,000 to begin with in 2017."

FM Jaitley began his speech by saying, "Quality Education will energise our youth". Specifying on the school sector, he said, "We have proposed to introduce a system for measuring Annual Learning Outcomes for schools. Emphasis on science education and flexibility in curriculum will help promote creativity through local innovative content."

Higher education being a major focus of the speech, FM stated, "An innovation fund for secondary education will be created to encourage local innovation for ensuring universal access, gender parity and quality improvement. It will include an ICT enable transformation. Focus will be on 3479 educationally backward blocks."

"In higher education, we will undertake reforms in UGC. Good quality institution would be enabled to have greater administration and academic autonomy. Colleges be identified based on accreditation and ranking and given autonomous status. A revised framework will be put in place for accreditation and credit based programs."
A sea change with introduction of online courses, Jaitley said, "We propose to leverage information technology by launching Swayam platform with at least 350 online courses. It will enable students to attend the courses taught by the best faculty, access higher quality reading resources, participate in discussion forums and take tests to earn academic grades. Access to Swayam will be widened by the linkage with DTH channels dedicated to education."

Freeing central boards from the pressure of assessment, Jaitley mentioned, "We proposed to establish a National Testing Agency, an autonomous premier testing institution to conduct all examinations for Higher education. This would free the CBSE, AICTE and other premier institution from these administrative responsibilities so that they can focus more on academics."

Skill education saw light of the day when Jaitley said, "We propose to extend PM Kaushal Kendras in 60 districts to 600 districts across the country. 100 India International Skill centres will be established across the country for advanced training and courses in foreign languages to help youth who want to relocate in other countries for employment."

"In 2017-18 Skill Acquisition Knowledge Awareness and Livlihood Promotion or SANKALP Program will be launched at a cost of Rs. 4000 crore to provide market relevant training to 3.5 crore youth. Next phase of skill training for industrial values enhancement will be launched this year at a cost of Rs. 2200 crore. The government will strive to improve the quality of vocational skills through ITI and promote apprenticeship through industry cluster approach. A special scheme for employment in the textile industry has been launched. A similar scheme will be implemented in leather and footwear sector. Tourism being a multiplier employment generator, 5 special tourism zones anchored on SPV will be set up in partnership with the states," said FM Jaitley concluding his speech on education.