Policy Development Initiative (PDI) organized a Seminar on “National Education Policy-A New Paradigm” at India International Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi on 23rd January 2013. The main objective of this programme was to focus more on Quality than Quantity and it was felt that there is a need for reorientation of our HRD policy and programs at each level.

1. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

Mr. S. C. Pradhan, President, PDI, delivered introductory lecture on PDI initiatives in governing National Education policy in the past. He stressed on burning topics like only 20-25% engineers of today are employable however he mentioned that rest 20-25% can be made employable through training. He gave insight into the 11th five year Plan which laid emphasis on all three tiers of education viz Primary education, Higher education & Professional /Technical Education. He also discussed the issue of Faculty Crunch in Technical Institutes.

2. The Chief Guest Dr. (Smt.) Kiran Walia, Minister of Education, Government of Delhi enlightened us by throwing light on

a) Unemployed Youth of today.

b) Role of Skilled Training in Education system.

c) Education System being Anti-Children rather than Pro-students.

d) Sense of ownership-Public Vs Private Sector.

e) Giving due respect for jobs like Carpenting, Painting, Sanitation, Pottery etc.

3. The Guest Dr. A. P Padhi, Member NAAC, delivered speech on Education & Knowledge in context of past and present. He recited a Sanskrit Shloka on value of knowledge in the past which meant that “Knowledge protects as mother, promotes interest as Father, removes sorrows & provides happiness as wife so that name flourishes in all directions and helps in acquisition of wealth like Kalplata”. But in the present context, Knowledge is only considered as a tool to churn money.

Following crucial points were covered in his session

a) Reading & Writing habits in today’s generation is declining.

b) Purpose of education is not only to get employment but to make good & responsible citizens of India.

4. HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA- Need for Re-thinking

Guest Speaker Dr. S. S. Mantha, Chairman AICTE in his lecture talked about the state of Technical education in India. He mentioned that states like Bihar and Orissa are far behind states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in imparting Technical education. He showed his concern on 20% seats remaining vacant in Technical colleges out of the 2 million seats available in the country. Sharing 2008-09 statistics he said that about 21 million students appeared in 10th class exam out of which only 11 million passed and in 12th class exam 157 Lakhs students appeared out of which only 79 Lakhs passed maintaining only 50% pass ratio on an average.

He cited the main reasons for dropouts after school is Financial hurdles of parents and the also mentioned that rate of Girl’s dropout is much more. He laid stress on

a) Trade based skills like of a Carpenter, Welder or Electrician.

b) Learn skill while getting degree & diploma

c) Flexible System of education.

d) Compulsory Summer/Winter school for teachers.

e) A New Paradigm: He told us that AICTE is now coming up with a proposal of vocational courses being integrated with Higher Education, so that students after 8th class can choose any course of his/her interest and continue with the same in parallel to the academic curriculum. The students will be given certification after 1000 hrs. of rigorous training each year and they can increase their levels from 1-7 starting from 9th standard to their graduation level. Students will have the flexibility to drop out at any level and rejoin at the same level according to his/her scenario. This will not only make them employable but would also minimize the drop out ratio owing to financial crisis.

f) Participation of Industry in designing of Syllabus for technical colleges.

5. The Guest Speaker Dr. S. P. Agarwal, Principal, Ramanujam College (Delhi University) delivered a lecture on Creative Thinking in Higher Education System. He reiterated to

a) Focus on Entrepreneurial spirit, skills and social value system compatible with a world society.

b) Promote Scientific temper amongst students.

c) Increase the budget for Higher Education in 12th Five Year Plan by almost 10 times.

d) Preserve Future stock of enriched human resource.

e) Encourage experimentation or experiential learning as our Education System lacks practical orientation.

f) Value labor or local skills and knowledge as our Education System has urban bias.

He also mentioned that according to National Commission of Population, it’s expected that by 2016, 50% of total population will be in age group of 15-25 Years and around 1.86 crore students will be enrolled in higher education He emphasized on Education to be

a) Activity Based.

b) Project/Case Study based.

c) Skill Development with experiment & hands on experience based.

d) Field work based.

e) Research based.

f) Value based.

He told that all of this can only be possible if we impart adequate training to University teachers. He ended with the words of Abraham Lincoln which he wrote to his son’s teacher that “End goal of Education should be Character Building”.

6. Guest Speaker Prof. J. Khuntia, Department of Economy (Delhi University) delivered a speech on role of Distance Education in Nation building. He said that Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is below 10% which is a major point of concern. He laid stress to focus on LPG(Liberalization, Privatization & Globalization).

7. Guest Speaker Mr. Nitai Gaur Dhall, Director, Silicon Institute of Technology, and an NRI from Singapore compared Indian and Singapore Policies of Education. He presented a case study of Singapore to improve the pronunciation of English of its citizens. The committee came up with a one point solution saying that if Kindergarten teachers are imparted quality training the situation would improve drastically. He also enlightened the audience by talking on a policy that Singapore has adopted: “Nobody fails” rather students pass with different number of subjects.

8. REINVENTING SCHOOL EDUCATION

Guest Speaker Dr. Arun Rath, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary Education, Govt. of India delivered a lecture on role of School Education in shaping the future of future citizens of the country.

a) He told us that our Primary Education System must have Excess, Equity and Quality.

b) According to UNESCO-“Quality is important but Quality must pass through the test of Equity.”