The Education system in India has been covered at length in the Union Budget of 2019 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. With schemes such as National Research Foundation and Study in India, the allotment of Rs 400 crore may be a tentative approach to change the perception of education in India.
National Research Foundation
The FM emphasised on research and innovation in the education sector. Providing adequate funding to nourish young minds to use their talent and skills at large in the country, to reach a global spot worldwide.
Sitharaman said, “National education policy will be brought in, to transform India’s higher education policy. Better governance and transformational change and importance on research and innovation. The National Research Foundation, to fund, coordinate and promote research. It will assimilate the research grant, being given by various ministries independent of each other, ensuring overall research system in the country, relevant to national priorities without duplication of efforts and expenditure.”
With the funding, students can now take their research designs ahead and present them on a national level. Studies, reports, data analysis can now be covered under the new budget.
Study in India
This move encourages students across the world to pursue education in India, thus building a better academic network.
Reducing the digital divide for students
Coming to the digitisation of education, the FM suggested that several online courses will reduce the gap of digital divide. While that is indeed a long shot, since most of the rural areas are deprived of good network on the digital platform.
Bringing education online isn’t a major task for creators, but providing access to the right amenities should be the primary focus. For instance, with the admission process going online, many students end up not securing admissions in the right manner even today.
Improve quality of teaching
The budget also highlights improving the teaching quality, and a global initiative of academic network. That being said, a lot of teaching staff in several colleges isn’t qualified and mostly make up for cost cutting. Maybe this approach can make sure, students get a better chance at quality education.
Reform the regulatory system
The FM also mentioned that the regulatory system needs to be reformed and also provide for greater autonomy, allowing scope for educational reforms, ditching outdated systems and adopting new learning schemes. The ministry also plans for a graft legislation for higher education commission of India in the year ahead.