CHANDIGARH: Haryana Education Minister, Kanwar Pal today welcomed the initiative of President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to formally start the National Education Policy 2020 through video conferencing. He said that Haryana will be the first state in the country to implement the new Education Policy.
Coincidentally, the Higher Education Department has also started the process of online admission for the first year of graduation today, which is one of the main features of this Policy. As per the new Education Policy the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education has to be increased to 50 per cent by the year 2030 while the GER is currently 26 in the country. However, it is already up to 32 per cent in Haryana.
The Education Minister was speaking on the occasion of launch of the admission portal http://dheadmission.nic.in through video conferencing by Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal today.
He said that to implement the New Education Policy, Haryana has already organized a four-day digital conclave of academicians in Chandigarh. More than 250 schools, colleges, vice-chancellors of various universities, principals, head teachers and other academicians gave their suggestions in it, which will be incorporated during the implementing of the new National Education Policy.
Kanwar Pal said that President Ram Nath Kovind is also serious towards implementation of the new Education Policy and probably after observing the initiative of Digital Conclave organised in Haryana, a similar conclave was called in New Delhi in which Governors of all states participated. While the inaugural address in this conclave was given by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi which will surely be inspiring for us.
He said that the National Education Policy is going to lay the foundation of a new 21st century India. This policy has been announced after 34 years. The specialty of this policy is also to bring about fundamental changes in school education, where the focus will be on three aspects firstly, school dropout by students due to some reason, secondly to ensure continuity of education of students who dropout, thirdly emphasis on pre-school education and level of education so as to take it to the international level.
He said that the education infrastructure is already sturdy in the state and Haryana has become the first state in the country where a college has been opened within a radius of 15 km.
The Education Minister said that 97 new colleges were opened in the last 5 years in the state, whereas only 75 colleges were opened in 48 years after the formation of Haryana. He said that the change that people were looking for in the education system for years will be seen in this Policy and under this, now every student, whether in nursery or college, will be imparted education scientifically which will nurture them to contribute towards nation building in a creative manner. Besides, it is the first time under the new National Education Policy that 6 per cent of the GDP has been earmarked for the education sector which will ensure that there is no dearth of funds for the implementation of this Policy.