Govt, pvt schools to compete in new India, says Javadekar
Government and private schools will compete with each other in new India, union human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar said on Saturday.
“In a few years’ time, parents will face a choice between government and private schools regarding where to send their children. That is the picture of new India,” Javadekar said here on the opening day of the Festival of Education.
The Centre has increased enrolment in government schools and will now focus on improving the quality of education and learning outcomes, he said at the festival, modelled on the Resurgent Rajasthan summit and Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet. The no-detention policy under Right to Education Act will be undone to introduce examinations in Class 5 and Class 8, and 24 states have given consent for this, he said.
The two-day festival is being organised by the Rajasthan government and GEMS Education, an international education company based in the UAE.
“Every child is different and blessed with different abilities. A good teacher’s job is to understand the child’s abilities and accordingly give opportunities to him or her,” Javadekar said.
Out of the four ways for a country to grow rich – colonising, utilising natural resources, cost competitiveness and innovation – the most desirable and sustainable way for prosperity is through innovations, he said.
Javadekar lauded the state government for school education reforms, such as consolidation of schools. “Other states are following the way paved by Rajasthan,” he said.
The festival, chief minister Vasundhara Raje said, is a celebration of knowledge and only a precursor of what is going to be done by the state in the field of education. She said, “While we need doctors, engineers, lawyers, etc., we also need to give students the opportunity to pursue the subject they genuinely love.” The state government, she said, is equipping teachers with new ways of pedagogy to develop their capacities and keep them updated.
The chief minister launched the Gyan Sankalp Portal that will allow corporate houses and donors to support government schools in Rajasthan.
UAE minister of culture and knowledge development Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan said wellbeing of society depends on education. “Relations between India and UAE are firmly rooted in common values and aspirations, confidence and trust. My presence here is an affirmation of the strong ties between the two countries,” he said. One tends to view the unknown as threatening and hostile because of ignorance. Education is one of the most efficient ways of eliminating fear and mistrust from the world, he said. “Human capital created through education and training is the engine of economic growth,” he said.