Lok Sabha Question No. 445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-05
Subject: Education System
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: DILIP PATEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 445 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2018

## Education System

## 445. SHRI DILIP PATEL:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is contemplating a new policy initiative to change education system to realise India's demographic dividend as working population are not employable and most industries service and agriculture sector are struggling with scarcity of potential workforce and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

## (Dr. SATYA PAL SINGH)

(a) and (b): The Ministry of Human Resource Development is implementing several schemes aimed at enhancing literacy and basic education of the youth, expanding access to all levels of education, including  higher  and  technical  education,  promoting  equity  and  improving  quality  of  education. There  has  also  been  significant  focus  on  curriculum  reform  to  increase  employability  of  the graduates.  The  scheme  of  Rashtriya  Uchchatar  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (RUSA)  seeks  to  strengthen  the state higher education sector. Further, scholarships are being provided to meritorious students as also interest subsidy on educational loans is provided to students from economically weaker sections.

The  Government  is  in  the  process  of  framing  a  New  Education  Policy  (NEP)  for  meeting  the changing  dynamics  of  the  population's  requirement  with  regard  to  quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping  its  students  with  the necessary    skills    and    knowledge    and    to    eliminate    the  shortage  of  manpower  in  science, technology,  academics  and  industry,  for  which  wide  ranging  consultations  were  undertaken  at multiple levels of online, expert/thematic and grassroots from village to State, Zonal levels as well as at  the  National  level.  Initially,  a  Committee  for  Evolution  of  the  New  Education  Policy  was constituted  which  submitted  its  report  in  May,  2016  and  thereafter,  the  Ministry  prepared  'Some Inputs for the Draft National Education Policy, 2016'. Both these documents are treated as inputs for policy formulation. The Some Inputs document states that 'Skill development programmes in school and higher education system be reoriented not only for gainful employment of our students but also to help them develop entrepreneurial skills' and that 'pre-vocational oriented activities be infused in the curriculum from early stages to develop positive attitude towards dignity of labour and develop skills in children'.

Suggestions  and inputs have  been  received from  various stakeholders such as, individuals, organisations, autonomous bodies, Hon'ble MPs, GoI Ministries and State Governments on various aspects  of  education.  The  exercise  of  preparing  a  New  Education  Policy  is  still  ongoing  as  a Committee for Draft National Education Policy under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan has been  constituted  which  will  consider  and  examine  all  inputs  and  suggestions  and  is  expected  to submit its report shortly.

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