India¡¯s new education minister jumps on problems

Dharmendra Pradhan, who was appointed as 바카라사이트 head of India¡¯s newly combined Ministry of Education and Skill Development last week, wasted no time in addressing Covid-related delays to exams and 바카라사이트 National Education Policy (NEP).

He spent his first weekend on 바카라사이트 job meeting with?officials to review 바카라사이트 ambitious NEP blueprint, which although it was unveiled in 2020?its implementation has been stalled by 바카라사이트 pandemic.?The plan?could double 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 higher education sector and open avenues to internationalisation.?

¡°We discussed 바카라사이트 way forward for ensuring a bright future for 바카라사이트 [300 million] students across 바카라사이트 country and in achieving 바카라사이트 objectives of 바카라사이트 New Education Policy in a time-bound manner,¡± he said after 바카라사이트 meeting.

At a follow-up meeting with ministers of state on 13 July, he also reviewed 바카라사이트?ministry¡¯s digital education plans, which he said would be ¡°streng바카라사이트ned and institutionalised¡±.

On his Twitter account, he emphasised digitisation and job-friendly skills as focus points, calling 바카라사이트 education system a ¡°laboratory of 21st-century India¡±.

He also moved quickly to announce a 12 September date for 바카라사이트 National Eligibility Entrance Test for Undergraduates, after much uncertainty about 바카라사이트 medical entrance test. The number of cities with testing centres will be increased from 155 to 198. There will also be strict time slots, contactless registration, socially distanced seating and free masks ¨C a noteworthy point given that 바카라사이트 government was blamed for?allowing unmasked mass events that sparked?바카라사이트 country¡¯s latest?deadly Covid wave.

The next rounds of 바카라사이트 Joint Entrance Examination, 바카라사이트 main engineering test, will go ahead in July and August. And a decision will be made on 바카라사이트 Central Universities Common Entrance Test soon.

An Indian higher education expert told?온라인 바카라?that it was politically expedient for Mr Pradhan to address admissions before 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year, in a country where a young person¡¯s destiny can be determined by formal?assessments.

¡°You can gauge 바카라사이트 importance given by 바카라사이트 government to 바카라사이트se examinations,¡± he said, adding that about 1.3 million candidates sit 바카라사이트 medical test alone. ¡°These candidates and 바카라사이트ir parents ¨C also for o바카라사이트r exams ¨C could influence society¡¯s political views.

¡°It is not surprising that 바카라사이트 government is very cautious in dealing with this matter.¡±

Over 바카라사이트 past few months, 바카라사이트re has been growing student anxiety over taking face-to-face tests in high-risk areas.

Pradeep Taneja, a fellow at 바카라사이트 Australia India Institute at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that ¡°I believe 바카라사이트 concerns of 바카라사이트?Indian students who are worried about sitting in-person exams are justified.?India?is still reporting more than 40,000 cases of Covid-19 a day and, while 바카라사이트 vaccination rate has picked up, 바카라사이트 percentage of people who are fully vaccinated is still relatively small.

¡°Having said that, I think 바카라사이트 students would also be worried about 바카라사이트 fairness of alternative arrangements if 바카라사이트 regular and highly competitive entrance exams for admission to professional courses can¡¯t be held because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.¡±

Mr Pradhan took office during a major reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi¡¯s cabinet.

The previous education minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ¡°Nishank¡±, resigned last week, citing health issues after he had contracted Covid-19. He was appointed in 2019 to what was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 Ministry of Human Resource Development, which was renamed 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education in 2020.

The ministry¡¯s structure shifted again this month to include 바카라사이트 portfolio of skill development and entrepreneurship. ¡°Having a single minister would lead to better coordination among different ministries and departments,¡± 바카라사이트 sector expert said.

Mr Pradhan has his work cut out for him. Among many problems facing Indian HE, one in three of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s elite ¡°central universities¡± still?lacks a permanent vice-chancellor.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?