Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation

PM’s address at Conclave on “School Education in 21st Century” under NEP 2020

  • Namaskar! My cabinet colleagues, the country’s Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank ji, Shri Sanjay Dhotre ji, chairman of the drafting committee of the National Education Policy Dr. Kasturirangan ji, esteemed members of his team, scholars, principals, teachers, ladies and gentlemen from all the states participating in this special conference.
  • Today, we all are becoming part of a moment that is laying the foundation for building the future of our country. This is a moment in which the seeds of the new era have been sown. The National Education Policy is going to give a new direction to 21st century India.
  • Friends, every domain of the world has changed in the last three decades. Every system has changed. In these three decades, there is hardly any aspect of our life which has remained the same.
  • But the path on which the society moves towards the future, our education system, it was still running under the old pattern. It was as necessary to change the old education system as it is necessary to replace a damaged blackboard.
  • Like every school has a pin-up board. You pin up all the necessary papers, necessary school orders, children’s paintings, etc. on it. The board gets filled up after some time. You have to make changes to put new paintings of the new children of the new class on that pin-up board.
  • The new National Education Policy is also a powerful means of meeting the new aspirations and new requirements of a New India.
  • It is the outcome of the hard work of the last four-five years. People from all walks of life, every discipline and language, have worked on it day and night. But, this is not over.
  • In fact, the real work has just started. Now, we have to implement the new National Education Policy in a very effective manner. And all of us will do it together.
  • I know, many of you are having several questions in your mind after the announcement of the National Education Policy. What is this education policy? How is it different?
  • What changes will it herald in the system of the schools and colleges? What is there for a teacher in this education policy? What is there for a student? And most importantly, what needs to be done for its successful implementation and how?
  • These questions are legitimate and necessary also. And therefore, we have all gathered here in this programme so that we can discuss it and make a way forward. I am told that yesterday, all of you discussed these things for hours in a very detailed way.
  • Teachers should prepare learning material according to themselves, children should create their own toy museums, there should be a community library at school to connect with parents, there should be a multilingual dictionary with pictures and there should be kitchen gardens in schools.
  • Many of such topics have been discussed and new ideas given. I am happy that our principals and teachers are enthusiastically participating in this campaign to implement the National Education Policy.
  • A few days ago, the Ministry of Education had also sought suggestions from teachers across the country on the Mygov portal for implementation of the National Education Policy.
  • More than 15 lakh suggestions have been received within a week. These suggestions will help in implementing the National Education Policy in a more effective manner. The Ministry of Education is organizing a number of programmes to create more awareness in this regard.
  • Friends, the younger generation and young energy have a big role to play in the rapid development of any country. But the foundation of that younger generation starts from childhood.
  • The life of the future depends largely on childhood. Children’s education, the environment they get, determines to a large extent, how they will become as a person in the future, what will be their personality.
  • Therefore, the National Education Policy has placed a lot of emphasis on children’s education. During pre-school, the child takes the first step to come out of the care of his parents and the relaxed home environment.
  • This is the first stage when children begin to realize their senses, their skills in a much better way. This requires schools and teachers who can provide children the environment of fun learning, playful learning, activity-based learning and discovery-based learning.