BUDGET PROPOSES QUALITATIVE STRENGTHENING OF 15,000 SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE ALL COMPONENTS OF NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY

100 NEW SAINIK SCHOOLS TO BE SET UP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NGOs/PRIVATE SCHOOLS/ STATES

HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION OF INDIA PROPOSED FOR STANDARD SETTING, ACCREDITATION, REGULATION AND FUNDING

CENTRAL UNIVERSITY TO BE SET UP IN LADAKH

More than 15,000 schools to include all components of the National Education Policy will be qualitatively strengthened; to enable them to emerge as exemplar schools in their regions, handhold and mentor other schools to achieve the ideals Policy. This was stated by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the budget 2021-22 in Parliament today. She also stated that 100 new Sainik Schools will be setup in partnership with NGOs/private schools/states.

Higher education

The Finance Minister also proposed to set up a Higher Education Commission of India as an umbrella body having 4 separate vehicles for standard setting, accreditation, regulation, and funding.

“Many of our cities have various research institutions, universities, and colleges supported by the Government of India. Hyderabad for example, has about 40 such major institutions. In 9 such cities, we will create formal umbrella structures so that these institutes can have better synergy, while also retaining their autonomy. A glue grant will be set aside for this purpose”, said Smt. Sitharaman.

Central University in Leh

She also proposed to set up a Central University in Leh for accessible higher education in Ladakh.

National Education Policy rollout to strengthen exemplar schools, expand partnership-run residential schools, and reform higher education governance. Budget proposes operationalising the National Education Policy by qualitatively strengthening a network of schools to include all NEP components as regional exemplar institutions, expanding specialised residential schools through partnerships with NGOs, private providers and states, creating a Higher Education Commission of India with four functional vehicles for standard setting, accreditation, regulation and funding, establishing umbrella structures in selected cities supported by a glue grant, and setting up a Central University in Leh to improve higher education access.