During COVID, Minister Pokhriyal discusses education policy with states and seeks input on upcoming class 12 board exams
On Monday, May 17, 2021, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank met with School Education Secretaries from all states and UTs to discuss the various steps taken to manage the education system during COVID-19. According to the PTI news agency, the CBSE Class 12 Board Exam 2021 was also addressed. Pokhriyal also discussed the various methods used in schools for online and offline learning so far, as well as the way forward, during the video conferencing conference.
This was the largest meeting on School Education conducted during the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Education. — The topic of the upcoming class 12 board exams was addressed by Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. In this regard, he sought advice from states. The CBSE board exam for Class 12 had been postponed by the Education Ministry on April 14 due to the COVID-19 situation in the country. The exams were supposed to start on May 4th. “The situation will be checked by the Board on June 1 in order to conduct the Board Exams for Class XII,” the Education Ministry said. Pokhriyal said that the government is dedicated to ensuring students’ safety and academic well-being. Despite the pandemic, Pokhriyal claimed in the meeting that the Centre and states, as well as agencies such as the National Testing Agency (NTA), have been able to provide education online and conduct public exams such as JEE and NEET-UG.
Their efforts and determination, according to the Education Minister, ensured the continuation of education for 240 million students enrolled in their schools and colleges. “In these unprecedented times, we have been active in transforming our homes into classrooms.” “We’ve also set an example by ensuring that no student has lost a year,” he said. According to Pokhriyal, the second wave has forced educational institutions to close for a longer period of time. “While we have ensured that students learn at home through various initiatives, we should concentrate on the needs of aspirational districts where there is a digital divide so that we can empower local governments, non-governmental organisations, and parents and teachers.”
The Minister stressed the importance of continuing the states’ and UTs’ coordinated efforts in 2020, as well as reaching out to the most vulnerable and neglected children during this pandemic phase. According to Pokhriyal, the Department has launched a number of projects in 2020-21 to help with continuous learning during the pandemic. These include: the expansion of DIKSHA under PM eVIDYA; DTH TV channels under the SWAYAM PRABHA TV channel bouquet; the introduction of online NISHTHA training for DIKSHA teachers; the launch of Manodarpan to meet the socio-emotional and psychological needs of students, and so on.
He also stated that a number of other programmes have been implemented to reach out to children who do not have access to digital education. The importance of involving various stakeholders in the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 was stressed by the Union Education Minister.
