The two-day National Education Ministers' Conference begins in Gujarat's Gandhinagar on Wednesday, June 1, with the focus on the implementation of the new National Education Policy (NEP). As a part of the two-day National Conference, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan along with Education Ministers of states and Union Territories (UTs), Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MoS Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology; Annapurna Devi, MoS for Education; Dr Subhas Sarkar, MoS for Education and senior officials of Ministry of Education visited Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK), Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG), National Forensic Science University (NFSU) and International Automobile Centre of Excellence (iACE).
During his visit, Dharmendra Pradhan informed that a nerve-centre for technology-enabled learning across the 54,273 schools in Gujarat. "AI and data-driven approach of Vidya Samiksha Kendra has shown encouraging results in boosting enrolments, increasing participation, addressing learning deficit and improving learning outcomes," he said.
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Leveraging technology to minimise non-academic work of teachers', strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy skills, ensure holistic evaluation of students, teachers and schools is cultivating and ensuring a more vibrant teaching and learning environment in Gujarat, the Education Minister said.
A nerve-centre for technology-enabled learning across the 54,273 schools in Gujarat, AI and data-driven approach of Vidya Samiksha Kendra has shown encouraging results in boosting enrolments, increasing participation, addressing learning deficit and improving learning outcomes. pic.twitter.com/eMiby0WH1v
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) June 1, 2022
Mr Pradhan further said that the VSK is a futuristic initiative to further personalised and child-centric learning. He also suggested the Gujarat government to conduct workshops for learning best practices in governance and technology-enabled learning from all states/UTs to improve learning outcomes across India.
"I have suggested Govt. of Gujarat to conduct workshops for learning best practices in governance & technology-enabled learning from all states/UTs to improve learning outcomes across India," he said.
Participants visited BISAG-N studios and other technical facilities and witnessed the works being done there towards improving the learning outcomes of children. The visit aimed to orient stakeholders on various aspects and role of BISAG-N in telecast of eContents and use of geo informatics in education and other sectors and bridging the digital divide, according to the press release.
Dr T P Singh, Director General, BISAG-N, MeitY at Gandhinagar, Gujarat explained different activities undertaken by BISAG-N - supporting telecast of eContents through 51 channels including 34 channels for Ministry of Education (School, Higher and Technical) Government of India under SWAYAM Prabha and PMeVIDYA DTH TV Channels (one class, one channel).
Dr Singh reiterated the democratic vision behind launch of 12 PMeVIDYA DTH TV channels and expansion of these channels to 200 more, for making quality eContent available to all. Dr. Singh suggested creation of eContent focusing on local languages, knowledge, various subjects, skill development, culture, environment, coaching for competitive exams etc. keeping in-line with the recommendations of National Education Policy (NEP) -2020.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pradhan called for a collaborative approach among all stakeholders for developing quality e-content for all classes from Balvatika to Class 12, including in local languages. He also encouraged BISAG-N to use its facility for developing innovative audio-visual content to boost learning.
Participants also visited the National Forensic Sciences University. After the visit, Mr Pradhan said, it is the first, one-of-a-kind and only super-specialised forensic university in the world. A pride of Gujarat and India, the NFSU is an institution of national importance which is creating a pool of trained professionals and fulfilling the demand of cyber defence and next-gen intelligence experts, he added.
Mr Pradhan called for convergence between NFSU and Ministry for Skill Development for skilling and up-skilling in digital forensics and other inter-disciplinary areas.
Later in a day, participants visited international Automobile Centre for Excellence. It Is one-of-its-kind institute in Gandhinagar catering to end-to-end skill development, training and research needs of the Indian automobile industry, the release said.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pradhan said that joint venture between Government of Gujarat and Maruti, iACE is a wonderful example of industry-academia collaboration, blended and employment-oriented learning. He suggested NCVET to evolve ways to provide degree equivalence to skill training programs conducted there, it added.
