NEW DELHI: The transformations in India’s education sector are not just policy-based but also participation-based, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday after launching several academic initiatives, which he said will play an important role in shaping the country’s future.

Modi was addressing the inaugural conclave of the 10-day ‘Shikshak Parv’ through video-conferencing, where he said the teaching-learning process in the country has to be constantly redefined and redesigned to make India’s education sector world-class.

As part of the Shikshak Parv whose theme is ‘Quality and Sustainable Schools: Learnings from Schools in India’, the PM launched the National Digital Architecture (N-DEAR), which he said is likely to play a major role in eradicating inequality in education and its modernisation. He also launched the Indian sign language dictionary (audio- and text-embedded sign language video for the hearing impaired, in conformity with the Universal Design of Learning), talking books (audiobooks for the visually impaired), school quality assurance and assessment framework of CBSE, Nishtha teachers’ training programme for Nipun Bharat and Vidyanjali portal (for facilitating education volunteers/donors/CSR contributors for school development).

Expressing confidence that these will not only make our education system globally competitive but also make the youth future-ready, Modi said, “In this rapidly changing era, our teachers also have to learn about new systems and techniques rapidly.”

“If we are in the midst of a transformation period, fortunately, we also have a modern and futuristic new National Education Policy. These transformations are not just policy-based but participation-based,” he said.

PM Modi praised the contribution of academicians, experts and teachers at every stage in the formulation of the NEP and its implementation. He urged everyone to take this participation to a new level and to involve the society in it. “During Covid, we have witnessed our education sector’s capabilities. There were a lot of challenges, but you solved all. Online classes, group video calls, online exams weren’t heard by many earlier,” he added.

The PM also recalled the performance of our athletes in the recently-concluded Olympics and Paralympics and expressed happiness that athletes have accepted his request that every player visit at least 75 schools during Azadi Ka Amrit mahotsav. “This will inspire the students and many will get encouraged to take up sports as career,” he said.