Centre allocates the highest recorded budget to education

“The Union Budget 2023 has focused on the importance of digital education which is the need of the hour. The emphasis on a national digital library for children will go a long way in developing digital skills among students. The focus on smart classrooms with the establishment of labs for development of apps is also a welcome step as it will re-energise technology development, which is the mainstay of industry and government policy now. Setting up more tribal residential schools and making available books in regional languages is inclusive and will bring    marginalised sections and regions of society into the educational mainstream. Teacher training is also a good measure as we need to prepare them in new digital skills that have become essential in pedagogical innovation. However, there could have been more attention to the expansion of scholarship and other financial aid programs for students from economically weaker sections of society and strengthening of vocational training programs to equip students with industry-relevant skills. Overall, the budget has managed some progressive measures for education and has kept the interest of the under-privileged students in mind.”–Ms. Shweta Sastri, Managing Director, Canadian International School, Bangalore

“As an educationist, it is highly encouraging to see the budget’s focus on educational skills & digital development which makes the students compatible with the development of modern talent. The impetus on recruiting large number of teachers and creating a sustainable teachers’ training programme equipping them with multilateral skills will go a long way in improving the quality of education in Indian schools. The establishment of District Training Centres for educators will also revolutionise both public and private school education across the country. Setting up National Digital Library and Physical Libraries at ward levels is a great boost for the marginalized communities. The emphasis on regional learning has received a boost with National Book Trust being entrusted with developing a reading culture by publishing content in several regional languages. The establishment of Eklavya schools which will help tribal students in the field of education and skills that will eventually make them industry and employment-friendly. The foundation and vision set by the government, through NEP will be vital in achieving these objectives of an effective and inclusive education system.”-Ms. Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International School

“I welcome the launch of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 4.0 in the 2023 budget. This scheme, which will focus on equipping the youth with cutting-edge skills in fields such as AI, robotics, and 3D printing, is a welcome step towards preparing our students for the demands of the 21st-century global marketplace. The emphasis on developing soft skills and launching 30 international centers will create numerous opportunities for our students to gain valuable experience and increase their competitiveness in the international arena. Shiv Nadar School as an institution is committed to the mission of continuous teacher training, and we are delighted that our vision aligns with the budget as District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) will be developed as “vibrant institutes of excellence”. It’s part of the school’s strategic vision to give away books and opportunities to learn about all important celebrations, whether it’s rewards, performances, or celebrations of getting great grades or festivals. We are delighted that a National Digital Library for children and adolescents will be set up to facilitate the availability of quality books across geographies, languages, genres and levels, and device-agnostic accessibility. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of the different initiatives on our education system in the years to come.”-Col. Gopal Karunakaran, CEO, Shiv Nadar School