Shri Piyush Goyal addresses the FICCI Higher Education Summit;

Says National Education Policy will make India the knowledge capital of the world

Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution said that National Education Policy(NEP) has given focus to innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development.Addressing the FICCI Higher Education Summit, he said that the Education Policy will transform the way we educate our children. The urge to expand education and knowledge will give this initiative a new thrust that will make India the knowledge capital of the world, he added.

Shri Goyal said that with the NEP, we will feel proud that every child in the country is entitled to, and getting equal quality of education. He said that knowledge is an amazing treasure if shared in troves, if unused it shrinks. Every moment in our life is about learning, increasing our knowledge and sharing our knowledge with society. The Minister said that the Policy allows students to be more creative in their chosen fields. He said that the policy has been formulated after extensive consultations, and hence has been widely accepted.

The Minister said that if we focus on personality development, teach responsibility & moral sciences, prepare them to become better citizens, inculcate a spirit of nationalism & develop a reading habit, it will redefine the way we educate our children. He said that Indian education system has to attain that level where the students from even the developed nations would come for higher study in our country, even in institutes other than IITs and IIMs. Shri Goyal said that together, this country can do wonders. He called upon the people engaged in the education sector to work together in that spirit of oneness and prepare a roadmap for 7 billion citizens of the world.

The Minister lauded the contribution of schools & teachers in nation building, to deal with the future and to alleviate poverty. Shri Goyal said that education is a great equalizer, empowers everyone, and helps in taking the right decisions at the right time.

National Education Policy prioritises innovation and skill development to broaden access and boost India's higher education appeal. The National Education Policy prioritises innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development, promotes creative learning, personality development and moral education to provide universally available, equitable quality education, and seeks to enhance the global attractiveness of Indian higher education through sectoral collaboration and strengthened roles for schools and teachers.