 "India to have National Innovation Initiative in primary and secondary education: Smriti Irani")
To inculcate interest in mathematics and science, the government will launch a national innovation initiative in schools, said Smriti Irani, Union minister for human resource development. Speaking at the Ficci Higher Education Summit on Thursday, Irani said the initiative, Rashtriya Aavishkar Abhiyaan, would be rolled out next year.
“This will ensure in primary and secondary education, we can inculcate the desire for inquiry-based learning and a desire to possibly oscillate towards the field of mathematics and science as a profession, rather than take it as a part of their academics,” she said. Irani said her ministry would take necessary steps to ensure higher education gives due importance to research and industry exchange of ideas and collaborations.
These measures will enable those who come up with innovative ideas to get the funding to turn their ideas into viable business models. They will not have to leave India to make their dreams into a reality, she said.
On education reforms, Irani said the ministry is in the process of designing a path that is not only holistic in nature but also takes cognizance of the needs of the future.
The minister said Madan Mohan Malviya Teachers Training Programme will be launched soon, for training and re-training of teachers across the country.
Irani said professors from the UK and other nations would come to India under the global initiative on academic networks. Under this initiative, launched by the government, industry experts and academicians from overseas can come and teach at least for one semester in higher education institutions.
She said it will help students get high-quality education, especially those who can't afford to go abroad.
Taking note of the desire for transparency and accountability, she said the government has launched the Know Your College portal. Those who are registered with the regulators can engage with the youth and their parents so that informed choices can be made before a journey begins in higher education.
"There have been concerns expressed on whether education is affordable. Recognising the need for affordable and quality education, the Indian government has set up a platform of 'Swayam', an Indianised version of Massive Open Online Courses," she said.
This has all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), central universities and selected best colleges and institutions of India. They will provide undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate courses free of cost to all citizens.
She added that those who seek a degree or certification in studies through Swayam can sit for an examination by paying a nominal cost at that particular institution and get a degree or certification at a very concessional rate.
To enable migrant workers, Irani said the University Grants Commission has implemented choice-based credit transfers. This will be implemented in all central universities across the country, so those who move to other cities in search of a job do not leave their education behind.
Emphasising the Narendra Modi government has already made a good progress in education reforms, she said: "For too long, we have waited for new initiatives; for too long we have waited for reforms to come."
Among other issues, Irani talked about the Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat Abhiyaan, which was launched in August. Through this, the HRD ministry aims to increase the learning outcomes in Grade 1-3 in reading, writing and comprehension and increasing learning outcomes in Grade 6-8 in the fields of mathematics and science.
Irani also mentioned the Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan - in which the IITs, IIMs and central universities adopt one village each (some have taken up 10 villages). Through this scheme, these institutes aim to develop rural India for a better tomorrow.
“This will ensure in primary and secondary education, we can inculcate the desire for inquiry-based learning and a desire to possibly oscillate towards the field of mathematics and science as a profession, rather than take it as a part of their academics,” she said. Irani said her ministry would take necessary steps to ensure higher education gives due importance to research and industry exchange of ideas and collaborations.
These measures will enable those who come up with innovative ideas to get the funding to turn their ideas into viable business models. They will not have to leave India to make their dreams into a reality, she said.
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“The government seeks to find money so that ideas don't leave our shore and youngsters realise their ideas will not only turn into successful business models but also have a societal impact,” she said.
On education reforms, Irani said the ministry is in the process of designing a path that is not only holistic in nature but also takes cognizance of the needs of the future.
The minister said Madan Mohan Malviya Teachers Training Programme will be launched soon, for training and re-training of teachers across the country.
Irani said professors from the UK and other nations would come to India under the global initiative on academic networks. Under this initiative, launched by the government, industry experts and academicians from overseas can come and teach at least for one semester in higher education institutions.
She said it will help students get high-quality education, especially those who can't afford to go abroad.
Taking note of the desire for transparency and accountability, she said the government has launched the Know Your College portal. Those who are registered with the regulators can engage with the youth and their parents so that informed choices can be made before a journey begins in higher education.
"There have been concerns expressed on whether education is affordable. Recognising the need for affordable and quality education, the Indian government has set up a platform of 'Swayam', an Indianised version of Massive Open Online Courses," she said.
This has all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), central universities and selected best colleges and institutions of India. They will provide undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate courses free of cost to all citizens.
She added that those who seek a degree or certification in studies through Swayam can sit for an examination by paying a nominal cost at that particular institution and get a degree or certification at a very concessional rate.
To enable migrant workers, Irani said the University Grants Commission has implemented choice-based credit transfers. This will be implemented in all central universities across the country, so those who move to other cities in search of a job do not leave their education behind.
Emphasising the Narendra Modi government has already made a good progress in education reforms, she said: "For too long, we have waited for new initiatives; for too long we have waited for reforms to come."
Among other issues, Irani talked about the Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat Abhiyaan, which was launched in August. Through this, the HRD ministry aims to increase the learning outcomes in Grade 1-3 in reading, writing and comprehension and increasing learning outcomes in Grade 6-8 in the fields of mathematics and science.
Irani also mentioned the Unnat Bharat Abhiyaan - in which the IITs, IIMs and central universities adopt one village each (some have taken up 10 villages). Through this scheme, these institutes aim to develop rural India for a better tomorrow.