Budget 2021 Expectations: These 5 announcements will boost online education, wishlist in the education sector

It is important that reform methods are adopted through financial steps in the coming budget.

Indian Union Budget 2021-22: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget for the financial year 2021-22 on 1 February. This will be the third budget of the second term of the Modi government. This budget has become very important due to Corona epidemic and subsequent economic crisis. Apart from students and parents, teachers have also been affected because many of them have faced mental pressure to cut jobs or immediately trend themselves in teaching online. In view of these obstacles in studies, it is important that reform methods are adopted through financial steps in the coming budget.

Teacher Relief Fund for Affordable Schools

According to the recent report, more than 50 percent private schools have not charged fees, which is 13 to 80 percent of their annual revenue. If this situation continues, the upgradation of technical infrastructure for the salary and hybrid studies of teachers will be greatly affected. Therefore, the government should think about allocation in the budget to set up a relief fund. In order to provide easy credit or salary fund to affordable private schools which are facing difficulties in COVID-19.

Pilot Fund for Government Schools

Given that there is a shortage of infrastructure and good quality teachers in government schools, the closure of schools can have a major impact on the children studying in them. Public-private partnership is needed to improve education in government schools, so that this problem of difference in studies can be eliminated as soon as possible. A pilot fund can be set up, so that different state governments can take help of private institutions for government schools.

Allocation for improvement of school based assessment

The National Education Policy states that the school-based assessment for children, under the leadership of the National Assessment Center, NCERT and SCERT, has been re-framed. It can be a gamechanger for students to develop the right skills. For this, support needs to be given in the coming budget.

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Learning Gap Fund

The next big challenge in education is a gap in the students’ developed education after one year of school closure. Most schools are already considering ways to fill this gap. By which students have a good understanding of the concept. In this, a fund for affordable private schools can help, making provisions for refresher courses or bridge programs in two classes, which will benefit the students.

Support for internet in schools

Hybrid learning, which includes both online and offline studies, is going to be ahead. The government should make at least one data connection available in every affordable private school, so that there is no loss of students’ education due to lack of digital infrastructure in schools.

(By: Sumeet Mehta, Co-founder & CEO, LEAD School)