Budget 2021: Education Gets A Short Shrift
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By Tanmaya Das
First publised on 2021-02-05 02:32:36
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Tanmaya is a budding journalist
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Union Budget 2021 has introduced many plans to recover from the economic recession. The budget has highlighted strong measures and investment plans in the healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture sectors to increase employment opportunities. In education sector, the Union Budget 2021 has planned to strengthen 15000 schools under the NEP 2020. However, FM Nirmala Sitharaman has not provided any investment plans on the Teachers' Training Programs. The budget has also not focused much on strengthening digital education.
To increase employment opportunities amongst the youth, the FM has announced to invest Rs 3000 crore on the Apprenticeship Act. She has also declared post-matric scholarship scheme for four crore students. She has also announced better infrastructure facilities in the tribal areas.
However, she has not revealed powerful investment ideas on the Teachers' Training program. During the pandemic, several children left schools due to the lack of digital infrastructure and poverty. Also, many teachers are technologically challenged. The NEP 2020 has underlined some measure reformations in the teachers' training programs, but the Budget has failed to allocate necessary funds for the same. Also, efficient implementation ideas are required with strict regulatory measures.
The Union budget has also planned to strengthen 15,000 schools. These schools will mentor other schools in their regions. It is a drawback since the socio-economic and cultural background of every school is different. Therefore, strengthening of 15000 schools to empower other schools needs careful planning.
The allocation of budget on the mid-day meals has reduced from Rs 12900 crores to Rs 11,500 crores. The Department of School Education and Literacy will receive Rs 54,874 crores, comparatively lower than the last budget.
The Union Budget 2021 could have played a significant role in strengthening the digital infrastructure in the teachers' training programs, especially since education has moved online due to the pandemic. It was found that the less privileged, with no access to digital infrastructure, were deprived of learning during closure of schools and colleges. India requires huge investments in digital infrastructure of schools with all-inclusive facilities. Education requires digital infrastructure to fight unemployment in the long run. In that sense, the Budget leaves a lot to be desired in this sector.
