As India anticipates the Union Budget for 2025, the education sector is expected to receive significant attention, with numerous challenges and opportunities in need of addressing. Ms. Niru Agarwal, Managing Trustee of Greenwood High International School in Bengaluru, shared her thoughts on the upcoming budget, highlighting the importance of education in the nation’s growth and the need for a comprehensive approach to improve accessibility, quality, and inclusivity.

“Education is a key development sector, and we have immense expectations from the upcoming budget,” said Agarwal. She noted that while recent educational policies have introduced promising reforms, there is a pressing need for the budget to focus on expanding access to education and technology, particularly in rural and underserved areas. This, she stressed, will be crucial for fostering a more equitable educational environment across the country.

Agarwal emphasized that the establishment of a blended ecosystem, combining digital tools, physical infrastructure, and practical learning environments, will be vital for improving the efficacy of education. “Building a blended ecosystem of digital tools, physical infrastructure, and practical learning environments will be essential for improving learning efficacy,” she stated.

Ms. Niru Agarwal, Managing Trustee of Greenwood High International School.

Although there has been an increase in funds allocated to education in recent years, Agarwal acknowledged that there are still considerable challenges in supporting student development in the current global context. “Although education has seen an increase in funds allocated towards increasing outreach, skill development, and improving its quality, there are still hurdles in effectively supporting learning and overall student development in an increasingly challenging world,” she noted.

Ms. Agarwal further pointed out the urgent need for a skilled workforce in the country, stressing the importance of early training and education. “The country will need skilled personnel at different levels, and this demand will be met only by training students at the school level,” she explained. According to her, the vision set out by the government through the National Education Policy (NEP) will play a key role in achieving these objectives. “The foundation and vision set by the government through the NEP will be vital in achieving these objectives of an effective and inclusive education system,” Agarwal said.

She also emphasized the importance of increasing women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. “It is important to increase women’s participation in STEM fields, which would be an important step toward building an inclusive workforce,” she remarked.

Agarwal also called for further emphasis on public-private partnership (PPP) models in education, which she believes could leverage the strengths of both sectors to improve the quality and accessibility of education. “We also believe that a further push to the PPP model approach in education can leverage the strengths and resources of both sectors to improve the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of education in the country,” she stated.

In conclusion, Agarwal reiterated the pivotal role of the education sector in the nation’s economic growth and development. “The education sector remains a cornerstone of a nation’s economic growth and development,” she said. “By embracing these elements, the education system can transform to meet the aspirations of a globalized and rapidly evolving world.”

With these considerations in mind, Agarwal called for the budget to provide a substantial boost to the education sector, addressing the challenges it faces and laying the foundation for a dynamic, future-ready education system. “Overall, the budget must give the education sector a significant boost to address the challenges of the day and build a dynamic, future-ready education system,” she concluded.