Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked educationists to prepare digital content in local languages, giving push to gradually shifting from education through English medium to vernacular medium while integrating technology.
“Today is International Mother Language Day. Learning through the mother tongue helps children. In many states, medical and technical education have been started in Indian languages. Now it is the responsibility of educationists to expedite the work for creating best content in local languages and make them available in digital version,” Modi said.
He was addressing a webinar on positive impact of Union Budget 2022 on the education and skill sectors.
The central government has already asked IITs and NITs to explore offering their courses in Indian languages.
The government has also decided to provide funds to state-level colleges and universities under its Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan for undertaking teaching-learning in Indian languages. The Union cabinet has approved a proposal in this regard.
The Union budget has announced setting of a National Digital University. Modi said such a university is a unique initiative in higher education.
“I can see that this university has the potential to solve the scarcity of seats in higher education sector. You can imagine the transformation it will usher in by creating unlimited seats in every subject,” Modi said.
The National Education Policy aims to increase the gross enrolment ratio — the percentage of students in the age group of 18 to 23 years in higher education — from 27 per cent now to 50 per cent by 2035.
“The education ministry, UGC and AICTE should ensure faster progress in setting up of this institution. It is our responsibility to ensure that this university maintains international standard from the beginning,” the PM said.
