Current initiatives in the field of education in India 2023
There are several current initiatives in the field of school and higher education in India, some of which include:
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The NEP 2020 is a comprehensive policy document that outlines the government’s vision for transforming the education system in India. It aims to provide all students equitable access to quality education, promote innovation and research, & prepare students for the of the 21st Century.
- Skill India: This initiative was launched in 2015 to provide vocational training and skill development opportunities to Indian youth. The program aims to train over 400 million people in various skills by 2022.
- Digital India: Digital India aims to transform India into a knowledge economy. It includes various programs such as e-education, which aims to provide quality education to students through digital platforms.
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog
National Institution for Transforming India, or NITI Aayog: is a policy think tank of the Indian government. It has several ongoing initiatives in the field of education in India, some of which include:
- Atal Tinkering Labs: NITI Aayog has launched the Atal Tinkering Labs initiative in collaboration with the Atal Innovation Mission. The initiative aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students by providing them with access to tools and technologies such as 3D printers, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
- School Education Quality Index (SEQI): NITI Aayog has developed the SEQI, a composite index that assesses the quality of school education in India. The index evaluates states and union territories based on various parameters such as learning outcomes, access, infrastructure, and governance.
- Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA): NITI Aayog has set up the HEFA, a not-for-profit company that provides loans to higher education institutions in India. The loans aim to improve these institutions’ infrastructure and quality of education.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development (IEED) program: NITI Aayog has launched the IEED program to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in India. The program aims to improve culture of innovation by supporting startups, incubators, and accelerators.
The initiatives launched aim to improve the quality of education in India by promoting innovation and ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge to succeed in the 21st Century.
Performance Grading Index (PGI)
In addition, we, too, have a Performance Grading Index (PGI) initiated by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, launched in 2019 to assess the performance of states in the school education sector.
The PGI assesses the states and union territories on various parameters such as access to education, infrastructure, equity, governance process, and learning outcomes. The PGI aims to encourage states and union territories to improve the quality of education in their respective jurisdictions and promote innovation in the school education sector.
The PGI report provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of states and union territories in the school education sector. It identifies best practices that can be replicated across the country. The PGI report is expected to help the government and other stakeholders in the education sector to develop policies and programs to improve the quality of education in India.
The PGI is a significant initiative in the field of education in India, as it provides a framework for assessing the performance of states and union territories and encourages them to work towards improving the quality of education in their respective jurisdictions.
Performance Grading Index (PGI)Vs. Educational Development Index (EDI)
The Performance Grading Index (PGI) and the Educational Development Index (EDI) are two initiatives that assess the education sector’s performance in India. However, they differ in their approach and scope.
The PGI is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, which assesses the performance of states and union territories in the school education sector based on various parameters such as access, infrastructure, equity, governance process, and learning outcomes. The PGI provides a comprehensive assessment of the performance of states and union territories and identifies promising practices that can be replicated across the country.
On the other hand, the EDI is an initiative of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), which assesses the status of education development in India at the district level. The EDI is based on indicators such as literacy rates, enrollment ratios, infrastructure, teacher availability, and gender parity and ranks districts based on their educational development.
While both the PGI and the EDI aim to assess the education sector’s performance in India, they differ in their scope and focus. The PGI focuses specifically on the school education sector and assesses the performance of states and union territories. In contrast, the EDI assesses the status of educational development at the district level and covers both school and higher education.
Overall, both the PGI and the EDI are essential initiatives in the field of education in India, as they provide a framework for assessing the education sector’s performance and help identify areas that require improvement.
It is hoped that the initiatives mentioned above will help India to attain the status of universal school education in India.
