COIMBATORE: THE New Education Policy (NEP) is an agendum for the nation, said Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar at the inaugural function of Isha Vidhya’s first annual conference on ‘Innovating India’s Schooling’ here on Saturday.
“I want all inputs from all members to create a watertight education policy. We must follow that unitedly. The future of India is being shaped through this,” Javadekar said during the conference at the Isha Yoga Centre on the outskirts of the city.
Javadekar has asked MPs of all parties to meet on November 10 to discuss the NEP, through which he aims to make India the hub of global education.“Education should be creative and interesting just as Isha Foundation make it through its various educational initiatives. Education should promote inquisitiveness. If you kill inquisitiveness, you can never become innovative. We don’t want a rat race and pressure of examination among students. My objective is to make India the hub of global education,” he said, while elaborating on the sort of system he wants.
After Independence, people began to believe that education is government’s responsibility. But that is not the case. The community must work together to strengthen the education system. He would try to involve all stakeholders and create a strong education policy, Javadekar said.
Emphasising on primary education, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder, Isha Foundation and Isha Vidhya, said, “Our education system is largely a remnant of the colonial agenda. We have made small changes, but we have not re-thought education. India is home to a fifth of the world’s population so education is of supreme importance. If we transform our population into a stable, skilled and inspired population, then we will be greatest miracle in the next 25 years. But if we leave them uninspired, unskilled and unstable, then we will be the greatest disaster unfolding on the planet. We have to ensure that the adult population of India is involved in the education system in some way.”
Javadekar and Jaggi Vasudev spoke to a gathering of India’s best minds in education focused on reviving and transforming the country’s primary education landscape.On Saturday, Isha Foundation also celebrated the 10th anniversary of Isha Vidhya — its education initiative aimed at transforming the educational landscape of rural India. At the function, Javadekar also felicitated Isha Vidhya students and teachers for their performance and achievements.