New Delhi, Oct 20: Union Education Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Tuesday said that the national Education policy will help to curb the Indian students from going outside India either for higher education or for employment.

He made the remark while speaking in a webinar organised by Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI) on ‘Swami Vivekananda’s Educational Vision and National education Policy 2020’.

He added, there was a time when the students from the country as well as from the world used to come to Universities like Nalanda and Taxila (Takshashila) to acquire knowledge of science and arts. Swami Vivekananda’s ideals in fact, go with India’s vision of ‘Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam’ and it is also very much apt in the present scenario to mingle this great master’s vision with the education policy which only encourages acquiring knowledge with experience.

The Minister stated that the ultimate aim of acquiring knowledge is to keep everybody out of sufferings as the Sanskrit shloka says, ‘Sarve bhavantu sukhinaḥ/sarve santu nirāmayāḥ/Sarve bhadrāṇi paśyantu/ Mā kaścidduḥ khabhāgbhaveta.’ 

Dr. Pokhriyal was very much appreciative of the institute’s activities to uphold the visions of Vivekananda as well as impart such an education which envisages the scientific, aesthetic, cultural and spiritual totality.

According to Dr Pokhriyal, the Union Government has attempted to come up with a new education policy which is in line with the thought of learning through experience as well as through living.

The National Education Policy 2020, he said, is akin to the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, as this great sage used to say, what the man learns should not  be kept inside. He said, we want such an education, which not only helps in the sharpening of the intelligence but also assists in development of mind as well as our character.

Dr. Pokhriyal pointed out that the National Education Policy is an attempt to follow Vivekananda’s this ideal as well as trying to implement his visions into reality so as to make education not only national or international but also an inclusive one and holistic one. It is now the time to give access to this national education policy in terms of equality and quality.

He also spoke about Prime Minister’s vision of holistic education through a new curricular structure of 5+3+3+4 corresponding to ages 3-8 years, 8-11 years, 11-14 years and 14-18 years respectively which is akin to Vivekananda’s vision of education, i.e., imparting primary education through Mother Language and the higher education may also be imparted through Mother Language. The aim of this education policy is to put more importance to Mother Language, the Minister reiterated.

While speaking on the technological development of the country, Dr Pokhriyal stated that scientific and technological innovation-based education is also necessary in the present scenario to compete with the world and to give impetus to this, a National Technological Forum is formed with the help of IITs and IISERs.

The Union Government is now urging the world to send their youths to study in India as it has been envisaged that the Indians are giving leadership in many organisations internationally like Microsoft and Google. The Minister also informed that more than thousand students from ASIAN nations are now studying in India.

The other speakers of the webinar included Swami Suviranandaji, Chancellor, RKMVERI, Swami Atmapriyanandaji, Pro-Chancellor, RKMVERI and Swami Sarvottamanandaji, Vice Chancellor, RKMVERI.