Union Education and Skill Development Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday at the G-20 Education Ministers’ Meeting delivering his opening remarks said, India has operationalised virtual schools and is already in the practice of setting up Digital universities as well as TV channels solely for education in multiple Indian languages to expand the territory of education and also for achieving the goal of making education equitable & accessible to all.
Pradhan putting forward his interventions on the theme ‘Recovery, Re-imagine and Rebuild Stronger’ spoke about the necessity of sharing mutual experiences and working together to create a world in which education remains the principal or fundamental point for facing common challenges.
He further said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, based on the foundational principles of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability, known to be the five pillars, is India's guiding light for promoting lifelong learning opportunities and achieving the shared vision of G20. India is making rapid strides towards building a more resilient and inclusive education and skilling ecosystem and realising the creative potential of each learner through the implementation of NEP 2020, added Pradhan.
Pradhan said that the NEP 2020 has shown the way for the internationalisation of education in India and India is, by all means, welcoming foreign universities to set campuses in GIFT City in Ahmedabad. We are also in the process of bringing policy measures for allowing foreign universities to set up their campuses across India, giving a whole new dimension to the education domain.
He said that India is giving special emphasis on formalising early childhood care & education, supporting differently-abled children, boosting digital and hybrid learning, flexible entry-exit pathways, and integrating education with skills, which are keys to improving learning outcomes. Pradhan also emphasized India’s commitment to work together with G20 member states in order to establish an education system where learning outcomes will enhance the skills required in the 21st century. For education to be the driver of global growth, all efforts should be made to harness the full potential of our G20 EdWG.
During the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting, Pradhan held a series of bilateral meetings with HE Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Education & Foreign Affairs, Singapore, HE Dr Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education and MoS for Entrepreneurship and SME, the UAE and H.E. Dr. Hamad M.H. Al Sheikh, Minister of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.