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Education Budget - A MIX PICKLE For All.
Recently the education budget has been released, and this time it is likely a MIX PICKLE to all of us. Yes, there are a lot of sweet things included..

by Himani Verma / 05 Feb 2021 11:16 AM IST / 0 Comment(s) / 277

Recently the education budget has been released, and this time it is likely a MIX PICKLE to all of us. Yes, there are a lot of sweet things included that we can say the benefits to teachers, students and other education sector personnel. But on the other hand, there is a pinch of sourness as well. Yes, despite declaring regarding some amazing policies and regulations, the government has also lessened up the amount of budget. As per the details available, the government slashed the Education Budget by 6000 crores. Let's take a brief look over the Education Budget of 2021 and understand WHAT’S SWEET – WHAT’S NOT.

WHAT'S GOOD?

The finance minister stated that the National Education Policy 2020 had received a good reception. He declared some of the major benefits that the education sector is going to experience. The benefits are:

  • Qualitative strengthening of 15000 schools will be done to include the National Education Policy components. Also, these schools will play an important role in their region to mentor other schools to check whether they are achieving the standards raised by the new policy or not.

  • With the partnership with the states, private schools and non-government organizations, 100 new Sainik Schools will be organized.

  • A Higher Education Commission in the Education Budget was set up in 2019; the legislation for it will be done this year.

  • For boosting up the accessible higher education in Ladakh, the government will set up a Central University in Leh in tribal areas, 750 Eklavya Model Residential Schools will also be built up.

  • The cost of each Eklavya Model Residential School will be raised from 20 crores to 38 crores. However, for the hilly areas, the cost has been raised to 48 crores. The major reason is to support tribal students and provide the best education facility.

  • The post-matric scholarship will be revamped to maintain the welfare of more than 4 crores scheduled caste students. It has been decided that till 2025-26 and the amount of 35219 crores will be spent.

  • To amplify the apprenticeship opportunities for the youth, the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme will be amended.

  • On the Apprenticeship Act for providing post-education apprenticeship training to the engineering graduates and diploma holders, 3000 crore rupees will be spent by the government.

Along with all this, there is some international collaboration that has been highlighted and while declared in the Education Budget.

  • To benchmark, the skilled qualifications, certifications and assessments, and initiative with the UAE will be accompanied by the deployment of the certified workforce.

  • Between India and Japan, a collaborative Inter Training Program will be held. The major motive will be transferring the vocational skills, Japanese industrial techniques and knowledge. This planning is also done for other countries as well.

  • The funds for Kendriya Vidyalaya have also risen from Rs 5516 crores to 6800 crores. Even, allocation of amount for the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and Navodaya Vidyalaya has also been increased by Rs 500 crores each.

These are some of the major reforms that have been declared by the government in order to boost the education system in the country. We praise the initiatives that the government is going to take to maintain the welfare of the education society. However, along with all this, there are some negative aspects as well that are required to be taken into consideration. Now let's take a look over what's not so good in the Education Budget.

WHAT'S NOT?

This time, the Education Ministry is going to get Rs 93224.31 crores. You must be thinking that this is a huge amount allocated, but as compared to last year, it is Rs 6086.89 crores less. Yes, the government has slashed the Education Budget this time.

Along with this, the government has also smashed the budget for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. It is an essential scheme introduced to provide quality education to all the school goers. Here, the budget has been brought down to Rs 31050 crores from Rs 38750 crores.

Not only this but also the budget for a national scheme for an incentive to girls for secondary education that is a major fund for boosting gender inclusion has been smashed by a hundred crores.

The Requirement of Digital Infrastructure:

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the schools, colleges and coaching institutes had to remain shut in 2020, and this has surged the need for online learning rapidly and suddenly. The students and teachers residing in the urban areas have adopted this change quickly, but the rural students have struggled with problems related to a poor internet connection, absence of smartphones, laptops, power cuts and others. The majority of the government schools in the rural areas have no facility for internet connectivity and that is why the learning of several children has halted completely.

In order to give such children a fair chance to complete their education, proper digital resources should be made available as soon as possible. Due to this pandemic situation, the families in the rural areas and even in the urban areas have pushed into poverty and children are expecting to turn up in the government school this year. That is why, it has become one of the major responsibilities of the government to enhance qualitative infrastructure learning, training of teachers and other facilities to the government schools as well.

Undoubtedly, India is one of those countries blessed with abundant and young human resources. It is important to invest in the polishing of this wealth. If the investment goes right towards providing quality education, then it will definitely help in getting the best returns on investment tomorrow.

Finally…

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic affected the whole world. It not only slashed the mental and physical health of the people but also inflicted a great number of economic losses. Hence, it is a bit natural to experience reforms and alterations in the budget. However, it is important to take the priority factors into consideration. Despite slashing the amount, the government still has announced some of the amazing policies that will lead the education sector towards a better tomorrow.

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