Last week, Smiti Irani, Human Resource Development Minister invited suggestions from the students and teachers of CBSE schools on the New Education Policy, the consultation process for which began in January 2015.
While presenting awards to teachers on National Teachers day celebration on September 5th 2015, the HRD minister said “CBSE should also be involved in drafting the new national education policy and should ask the students and teachers about their views, the inputs of which should be collected by November 15.”
HRD Minsiter Smriti Irani. (Image Source: newseastwest.com)
The mission of the New Education Policy has been briefly explained on the website mygov.in as “The Government of India would like to bring out a National Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regards 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.”
The policy seeks to involve all the essential stakeholders from different sections of the society including the suggestions of teachers and students, and its draft is expected to be completed by the end of this year. In addition to seeking for suggestions, the minister also favored the introduction of three innovative award categories for teachers, who support and promote performing arts, who stimulate teaching as a profession in rural communities and for teachers who innovate in classrooms to venture beyond books. The awards comprise of cash price Rs.50, 000 and a shawl to honor teachers India and all around the world.