New Delhi, Sep 1 (IANS) School textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 are being prepared in 22 different languages of the country, said Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday.
The Education Minister, speaking at NCERT’s 66th Foundation Day celebrations, highlighted its multi-pronged strategy for expansion and also commended the apex education body for its efforts in promoting multilingual education.
He further informed that 122 foundational language materials are being prepared in various Indian languages, including 93 tribal languages, to facilitate easy and comfortable adoption in respective course curricula.
Joshi remarked that this would provide children with the opportunity to learn in their own languages and help extend education to diverse regions and communities across the country.
The Education Minister said that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 laid a strong foundation for comprehensive reforms in school education with its focus extensively on holistic development, creativity, logical thinking, experiential learning, and competency-based education.
Lauding the role of NCERT in transforming the country’s school education system and shaping the future of children, he said that it has been an integral part of the Indian education system for over six decades and its textbooks, study materials, and curricular frameworks have contributed to shaping school education in the country.
He also called upon the NCERT to foster greater innovation, inclusivity, and research, and to bring about changes aligned with future needs.
The minister said that imparting knowledge of traditional subjects is not enough for today’s students and it is essential to equip them with skills such as digital literacy, an understanding of artificial intelligence, logical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.
Joshi also highlighted students’ mental health as a crucial component of the education system, noting that attention must be paid to children’s mental well-being through appropriate curriculum changes and teachers’ training.
He remarked that the NCERT must move forward in alignment with the evolving needs of education, building upon its more than six decades of experience and achievements.
–IANS
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