The government of India has announced several initiatives to boost the education sector. The move comes as the present pandemic situation has presented new challenges and several opportunities for the education system in the country.
The immediate set of initiatives includes:
1) A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA will be launched which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education. This will enable multi-mode access to education, and includes: DIKSHA (one nation-one digital platform), TV (one class-one channel), SWAYAM online courses in MOOCS format for school and higher education, IITPAL for IITJEE/NEET preparation.
2) The launch of the Manodarpan initiative to provide such support through a website, a toll-free helpline, national directory of counselors, interactive chat platform, etc. This initiative will benefit all school-going children in the country, along with their parents, teachers, and the community of stakeholders in school education.
3) GoI’s move to expand e-learning in higher education by liberalizing open, distance, and online education regulatory framework.
4) GoI to prepare a new National Curriculum and Pedagogical Framework for school education, teacher education and early childhood stage to prepare students and future teachers as per global benchmarks. The aim is to promote critical thinking, creative and communication skills, along with experiential and joyful learning for the students focussing on learning outcomes.
5) Centre is to launch National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy in Grade 3 by 2020.