India’s education sector stands at a crucial crossroads, with nearly 50 percent of the country’s 1.4 billion population under the age of 25. As the nation continues to leverage its demographic dividend, Arti Dawar, CEO of Shiv Nadar School, has stressed the importance of sustained and strategic investment in education to unlock the full potential of this young workforce.
In her statement, Dawar highlighted the ambitious target set by the government to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) from 28.4 percent to 50 percent by 2035. “This demographic dividend calls for sustained and strategic investment. The target of increasing the Gross Enrolment Ratio from 28.4 percent to 50 percent by 2035 reflects a commitment to expanding access,” she said, emphasising the urgency of improving educational access for India’s youth.
To achieve this goal, Dawar pointed to the need for faster implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with a focus on teacher training, institutional capacity building, and outcome-driven reforms. “Continued progress will depend on faster implementation of NEP 2020, supported by teacher training, institutional capacity building, and outcome-driven reforms,” she added, noting that these foundational elements are essential for improving the quality and effectiveness of education.
Dawar also advocated for comprehensive digital infrastructure to address the urban-rural divide, ensuring that students across the country have equal access to high-quality learning resources. “It will also require universal digital infrastructure to bridge the urban-rural divide, deeper collaboration between industry and academia, and sustained investment in skills development and research,” she explained.
Emphasising the role of education in building India’s human capital, Dawar concluded, “Together, these measures can strengthen India’s human capital and support the transition towards a knowledge-driven economy, contributing to the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat.” Her remarks underscore the need for targeted, long-term investments to equip India’s youth with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.
