The Indian Ministry of Education is celebrating Shiksha Parv from 5th to 17th of September. This festival recognises and honours the contributions of educators across the nation. The primary focus of this year’s celebration is to further progress the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. To mark the occasion, the Prime Minister launched several important initiatives in the educational sector.
Five Key Initiatives Introduced
Among the programs launched are five notable initiatives aimed at enhancing education standards and inclusivity.
The Indian Sign Language Dictionary was created for children and individuals with hearing impairments and it consists of 10,000 words. The initiative aims to bridge the communication gap for those with hearing disabilities and ease their learning process.
The Talking Books initiative focuses on providing audiobooks to visually impaired individuals. The aim is to ensure that learning isn’t hindered by disabilities, providing equal opportunities to all.
The School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Framework (SQAA), proposed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), aims to provide a common scientific framework for educational components such as curricula, pedagogy, assessment, infrastructure, inclusive practices, and governance process.
The NISHTHA Teachers’ Training program for NIPUN Bharat is designed to improve the quality of school education through integrated teacher training. The scheme aims to achieve universal foundational literacy and numeracy for every child by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.
Vidyanjali 2.0 Portal provides a platform for education volunteers, donors, and Corporate Social Responsibility contributors towards the development of schools. Since its launch in 2017, it has been focusing on improving literacy rates.
Additional Educational Initiatives
Apart from these, other initiatives have also been introduced recently. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0 till 2025-26 financial year to revitalize school education. On the first anniversary of National Education Policy 2020, the Prime Minister launched the Academic Bank of Credit, aiming to provide multiple entry and exit options for students in Higher education.
Other launches included Vidya Pravesh for Grade 1 students, Indian Sign Language as a secondary level subject, NISHTHA 2.0, and SAFAL. The National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) and National Education Technology Forum (NETF) were also introduced at the event.
Teachers’ Day Celebration
On 5th September, Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually throughout India in memory of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary. World Teachers’ Day is celebrated globally on 5th October.
Radhakrishnan, born in 1888, was a multifaceted personality – a teacher, philosopher, author, and politician. He rose to become the first Vice President and later the second President of India. His remarkable contributions earned him knighthood in 1931, Bharat Ratna in 1954, and honorary membership of the British Royal Order of Merit in 1963. His legacy remains etched in the country’s history and his birth anniversary is celebrated as a tribute to all teachers in the country.