English rendering of PM’s address at the inaugural conclave of Shikshak Parv
Namaskar!
Joining me in this important event of Shikshak Parv, my colleagues in the cabinet, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan ji, Smt. Annapurna Devi ji, Dr. Subhas Sarkar ji, Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh ji, honorable Education Ministers of different states of the country, Dr. Kasturi Rangan ji, Chairman of the committee that prepared the draft National Education Policy, all the honorable members of his team, all the learned principals, teachers and dear students from across the country!
At the onset, I would like to congratulate our teachers who have been honored with the National Award. All of you have made a sincere effort towards education in the country, for the future of the students in difficult times, which is incomparable and commendable. I can also see our students on the screen who are present in this program. There is a different glow visible on your face for the first time in one-and-a-half or two years. This is probably due to the opening of schools. The pleasure of going to school after a long time, meeting friends and studying in classes is an altogether different experience. But along with enthusiasm, all of us, including you, also have to follow the corona protocols strictly.
Friends,
Today, many new schemes have been launched on the occasion of Shikshak Parv. We were briefed about these new schemes through a documentary just now. These initiatives are important because the country is currently celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence. The country is taking new resolutions today for India after 100 years of independence. The schemes which have been launched today will play an important role in shaping the future of India. Today new programs and arrangements like Vidyanjali-2.0, Nishtha-3.0, talking books and UDL based ISL-Dictionary have been launched. I am confident that the introduction of School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework, i.e. S.Q.A.A.F, will not only make our education system globally competitive, but will also help our youth to be future ready.
Friends,
All of you have exhibited the potential of our education system even during the Corona period. The challenges were many, but all of you found solutions to those challenges swiftly. Online classes, group video calls, online projects, online exams, etc. were not even heard before. But our teachers, parents and our youth have easily made them a part of daily life!
Friends,
Now is the time to take these capabilities forward and give a new direction to what we have learned in this difficult time. Fortunately, on one hand, the country has an environment for change and at the same time there is a modern and futuristic policy like the new National Education Policy today. The country is continuously taking new decisions one after the other in the education sector for some time now and witnessing a transformation. And I want to draw the attention of all the scholars to the biggest strength behind this. This campaign is not only policy based but participation based. At every level, there has been contribution of academicians, experts and teachers from the formulation of NEP to its implementation. You all deserve praise for this. Now we have to take this participation to a new level, we also have to involve the society in it.
Friends,
We have been told:
व्यये कृते वर्धते एव नित्यम् विद्याधनम् सर्वधन प्रधानम् ॥
That is, knowledge is the greatest of all possessions and wealth, because knowledge is the only wealth that increases by sharing it with others. The contribution of knowledge also brings a great change in the life of the one who teaches. All the teachers involved in this program must have also felt this. The happiness and satisfaction that comes with teaching someone something new is different. ‘Vidyanjali 2.0 will now strengthen this ancient tradition in a new flavour. ‘Vidyanjali 2.0’ is like a very lively platform for the country’s resolve to ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ with ‘Sabka Prayas’. It is like a vibrant platform. Our society and our private sector have to step up and contribute in enhancing the quality of education in government schools.
Friends,
Since time immemorial, the collective power of society has been relied upon in India. It has been a part of our social tradition for a long time. When the society does something together, then the desired results are expected. And you must have seen this in the last few years how people’s participation is becoming the national character of India. In the last 6-7 years, several important things have happened due to people’s participation which no one could have imagined. Be it the cleanliness movement, ensuring gas connection to every poor household with the spirit of ‘Give it Up’ or teaching digital transactions to the poor. India’s progress has got energy from public participation in every field. Now ‘Vidyanjali’ is also going to become a golden chapter. ‘Vidyanjali’ is a call for every citizen of the country to become a participant and play an active role in shaping the future of the country and take two steps forward. You can be an engineer, a doctor, a research scientist, an IAS officer or a collector somewhere. Still, you can go to a school and teach children so much! You can give a new direction to children’s dreams by teaching them. And we know of so many people who are doing this too. There is a retired bank manager who is teaching children in schools in remote hill areas in Uttarakhand. Someone associated with the medical field is giving online classes to poor children and providing resources to them. No matter what your role is in the society and your success, you have a role as well as participation in building the future of the youth. Our players have performed brilliantly in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Our youth have been inspired a lot. I have requested each of the players to visit at least 75 schools on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav of Independence. I am glad that these players have accepted my request. I will urge all the honorable teachers to contact these players in your area, invite them to your school and hold interaction with the children. It will inspire our students a lot and many talented students will be encouraged to follow sports.
Friends,
Today another important beginning is being made through School Quality Assessment and Assurance Framework i.e. S.Q.A.A.F. Till now, there was no common scientific framework for education for our schools in the country. Without a common framework, it was difficult to adopt standards for all aspects of education such as curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, infrastructure, inclusive practices and governance process, etc. Due to this, school students in different parts of the country had to face inequality in education. But S.Q.A.A.F will now work to bridge this gap. Its biggest feature is that the states will also have the flexibility to make changes in this framework according to their needs. Schools will also be able to make their own assessments based on this. Schools can also be encouraged for a transformational change.
Friends,
National Digital Educational Architecture, i.e., N-DEAR is also going to play an important role in making it modern by eliminating inequality in education. Just as the UPI interface has revolutionized the banking sector, N-DEAR will act as a super connect between all academic activities. N-DEAR will facilitate transfer from one school to another or admission in higher education, multiple entry-exit system, academic credit bank or maintaining the records of the skills of the students. All these transformations will also become the face of our ‘New Age Education’, and will also end discrimination in quality education.
Friends,
All of you are aware that education should not only be inclusive but should also be equitable for the progress of any country. Therefore, the country is making technology like Talking Books and Audio Books a part of education. A 10,000-word Indian Sign Language Dictionary based on Universal Design of Learning (UDL) has also been developed. From Bihu in Assam to Bharat Natyam, sign language has been a part of our art and culture for centuries. Now, for the first time, the country is making sign language a part of the curriculum as a subject, so that innocent children who need it the most are not left behind! This technology will also create a new world for the Divyang youth. Similarly, the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission has been launched for children in the age group of three to eight years in the Nipun Bharat Abhiyan. Necessary steps will be taken so that all children should get compulsory pre-school education from the age of 3 years. We have to take all these efforts a long way, and the role of all of you, especially our teacher friends, is very important in this.
Friends,
It is said in our scriptures-
“दृष्टान्तो नैव दृष्ट: त्रि-भुवन जठरे, सद्गुरोः ज्ञान दातुः”
That is, there is no analogy of a Guru, no match to him in the entire universe. No one else can do what a guru can do. Whatever efforts the country is making towards education for its youth, its reins are in the hands of the teachers. Our teachers also have to learn about new systems and techniques in this rapidly changing era. A bit of this training program from ‘Nishtha’ Training Programs has just been presented to you. Through this Nishtha Training Program, the country is preparing its teachers for these changes. ‘Nishtha 3.0’ is now the next step in this direction and I consider it a very important step. When our teachers are acquainted with new methods like Competency Based Teaching, Art-Integration, High-Order Thinking, and Creative and Critical Thinking, they will be able to mold the youth easily for the future.
Friends,
Indian teachers not only have the ability to meet any global standard, but they also have their own special asset. Indian culture within them is this special asset. I want to share my two experiences with you. When I went to Bhutan for the first time as Prime Minister, everybody from the royal family to those in the government system used to proudly claim that earlier almost all the teachers used to come here from India and teach people by visiting the far-flung areas on foot. There used to be a sparkle in the eyes of the royal family of Bhutan or the rulers at the mention of Indian teachers. They felt very proud. Similarly, when I went to Saudi Arabia and was probably talking to the King of Saudi Arabia, he also proudly said that he was taught by an Indian teacher. You see the sentiment towards teachers no matter what position a person holds.
Friends,
Our teachers do not consider their work as a mere profession. For them, teaching is compassion, a sacred and moral duty. Therefore, there is not a professional relationship between the teacher and the children here, but a family relationship. And this relationship continues for the entire life. As a result, the teachers of India leave a different mark wherever they go in the world. Because of this, there are immense possibilities in the world for the youth of India. We have to prepare ourselves according to the modern education eco-system, and also convert these possibilities into opportunities. For this, we have to keep innovating continuously. We have to continuously re-define and re-design the teaching-learning process. The spirit that you have shown so far needs to be taken to newer heights and given a new fillip. I have been told that on this occasion of Shikshak Parv, Vishwakarma Jayanti is celebrated in our country from today till 17th September. These Vishwa Karmas are the creators who are conducting workshops, seminars on different topics from 7th to 17th of September. This in itself is a commendable effort. When so many teachers, experts, and policy makers from across the country brainstorm together, then the importance of this elixir in the Amrit Mahotsav of Independence becomes even greater. Your collective brainstorming will also go a long way in successfully implementing the National Education Policy. I would like you to make efforts in the same way at the local level in your cities and villages. I am sure that ‘Sabka Prayas’ will give new impetus to the country’s resolve in this direction. Together we will achieve the goals that the country has set in the Amrit Mahotsav. With these best wishes, many thanks to all of you and very best wishes.
