⇒ The Minister of State for Education, Shri Sanjay Dhotre participated in the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting on 22 June 2021.
Host:
The meeting was hosted in blended mode by Italy.
Discussion:
The G20 Education Ministers exchanged views on how to progress on the fight against educational poverty and inequalities, especially in context of the Covid 19 pandemic.
The ministers also resolved to share innovative experiences implemented during the pandemic to ensure the continuity and quality of learning pathways through blended education.
Representative of India:
Representing India, Shri Sanjay Dhotre addressed the meeting of the G20 Education Ministers’ and Joint Meeting of Ministers of Education and Ministers of Labour and Employment.
Key Points addressed by the Minister:
» Shri Sanjay Dhotre reiterated India’s commitment towards reducing and eventually eliminating educational poverty, inequalities and early school leaving.
» The National Education Policy, 2020 envisages equitable and inclusive education for all, withspecial focus on children and youth, especially girls, from socially and economically disadvantaged groups who are more at risk of being left behind.
» Indian education system has made steady progress towards bridging gender and social category gaps in all levels of education through multiple interventions.
» India has promoted blended learning extensively. The Digital educational content has been made available on various e-learning platforms like DIKSHA, SWAYAM and several others. Permissible online component in conventional education has been increased from 20% to 40%.
» In order to address the digital divide, India has been making extensive use of the SWAYAM PRABHA TV channels and the Community Radio.
» A National Education Technology Forum is being set up under National Education Policy 2020 to aid technology led education.
India’s Support:
» India reaffirms its support to the collective efforts of the G-20 countries to reduce educational poverty, inequalities and early school leaving.
» India also supports the collective efforts of G20 countries to further improve and strengthen blended learning initiatives on the basis of the lessons learnt during the pandemic to ensure education continuity.