GANDHINAGAR: Stressing that the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 lays huge emphasis on imparting education in regional languages, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that all Indian languages are national languages and are in no way inferior to English and Hindi.
Speaking at the National Conference for School Education Ministers at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar on Thursday, Pradhan also said it is time to free Indian education from the colonial mindset and that the country cannot deprive our new generation of 21st century knowledge and skills.
“All Indian languages are national languages and no regional language is inferior to English or Hindi. We will lay a huge emphasis on learning in regional languages,” Pradhan said. Stressing on the need to change mindsets, the minister commented, “We will have to free Indian education from the colonial mindset, from the mindset of servitude. ”
A clause of the “3-language formula” in the draft NEP had created a furore in 2019, which stated that Hindi should be taught compulsorily in all schools as the third language. This clause was removed subsequently by the Union government from the draft NEP.
Terming the NEP 2020 as the most comprehensive document prepared after widespread consultations with all stakeholders, the Union education minister acknowledged that there is disagreement over some provisions of the new education policy. “I wholeheartedly accept the fact there are some disagreements. I am sure these disagreements are for some good reason. If suggestions are for the betterment of education, we will accept them willingly,” Pradhan commented.
Addressing education ministers which represent various political parties, he said, “We are all political creatures, but we can surely build a consensus on making our education system world class. My department officials will connect with all of you shortly to discuss the curriculum issue,” he said.
The minister said that the Union education ministry is in consultations with all states and union territories for finalising the curriculum of playschools, foundational classes, schools, teacher’s training programmes, and adult education. “I want participation from all states in this exercise. The whole country can benefit from successful educational programmes being implemented in different states,” he said.
Pradhan said that the central government is in the process of putting together class-wise television channels which will be useful for students. “Class-wise television channels are being made and class periods will be planned on the lines of programmes on a television channel. The government has allotted Rs 1,000 crore for this project,” he said.
