S. Vishnu Sharma
Education Sector in India has managed to see many developments that are worth remembering.
This year was not a smooth sailing one on the for the education sector. Many factors came together to ensure hinderance to academic affairs and as well as exams.
Collegechalo makes an attempt to highlight all the major happenings in the education sector in this country as 2020 is nearing its end.
Education Sector Top News of 2020
1. Exam postponement
The one aspect in the education sector in this country that took a beating was conducting of exams.
CBSE board exams for 10th and 12th classes could not be conducted this year as per the schedule. Two major factors proved a hinderance.
First was protests over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and next factor was outbreak of corona virus.
While protests managed to bring exam conduting in the national capital to a grinding halt, outbreak of virus managed to stop board exams of not only CBSE but also of state education boards.
It was not only school exams, but college and university exams also were delayed.
2. New Education Policy
Union Government approved the New Education Policy (NEP) in July this year which is another worth watching development in the education sector.
While NEP received a warm welcome from most of the people, it had to encounter criticism in Tamil Nadu.
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The opinion was that NEP proposes three language formula which would impose Hindi in Tamil Nadu.
Central government later clarified that Hindi will not be mandatory and state governments can choose the three languages.
The NEP also gives importance to vocational education.
However certain sections felt giving importance to vocational education may bring into vogue the caste professions.
3. Lockdown and education
The lockdown imposed across the country in March this year went on for more than five months only to bring a change in the way learning took place in the country.
This year witnessed the Indian education sector embracing the online learning.
Earlier, students who used to go to physical classes in their schools or tuition centres remained restricted to their homes and had to it infront of their computers or laptops or mobile phones to take to learning.
What attracted the attention of everyone on the education front was online learning companies like Vedantu, Ahaguru had come forward to give a boost to online learning.
A drawback to this online learning was seen in the interior parts of the nation.
The rural areas in particular did remain a spectator to complaints that students residing there found it difficult to access online teaching or learning platforms owing to poor internet connectivity.
Despite its shortcomings, many students and teachers took refuge in online learning as there was a compulsive need to continue academic learning.
4. JEE Mains and NEET 2020
This year saw yet another challenge confronting the education sector in this country. This was in form of conducting NEET and JEE Mains.
These two competitive exams also could not be conducted this year as per the planned schedule.
After much delay, the competitive exams were conducted in the offline mode.
Though the presence of students at the exam centres was less than the expectations, the tests went on as planned.
Many sections even took to judiciary demanding the postponement of NEET and JEE Mains.
Even as the education sector in this country was watching the developments eagerly, judiciary refused to postpone the exams any further.
5. IIT Madras convocation
Another interesting development took place with regard to the education sector of this nation.
IIT Madras conducted its convocation for the first time in its history using mixed reality mode. Nobel Laureate Dr. David J. Gross was the chief guest for the occasion.
A total of 2,346 degrees were awarded during the convocation.
Convocation 2020 also included, for the first time, 59 Inter-disciplinary Dual-Degree students who upgraded from the UG programme to obtain Masters’ degrees in Data Science, Computational Engineering, Robotics, Nanotechnology and Energy Systems and 51 from industry who have earned their Masters degrees through the web-enabled executive programmes in engineering specialisations and business administration.
6. NIRF ranking 2020
The moment turned cheerful when NIRF ranking for this year was released in June. Among the IITs, IIT Madras stood number one in engineering category.
The other two top institutions in the same category were IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay. In the law category, NLU Bangalore got the number one rank.
IIM Ahmedabad got the first rank in management institutes category.
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The other institutes to be ranked in the same category were IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta. AIIMS Delhi was declared the best medical college in India.
These developments brought cheers to many who were keenly following the education sector of this country.
7. Anna University
Anna University which is a known name in the field of technical education in Tamil Nadu was in the news for many reasons.
People keenly following the developments in the education sector in this country said, problems began when the vice chancellor was appointed for Anna University.
M.K. Surappa was appointed as vice-chancellor and that was not received on a happy note.
Certain sections protested over appointing Surappa as vice chancellor who is said to be from Karnataka.
There were even some controversy in connection with Institution of Eminence (IoE) tag being bestowed to the university.
This gave rose to many other concerns.
Many sections felt that if IoE status was bestowed to the institution the 69 percent reservation policy could not be implemented.
The institution is also said to undergo a bifurcation if IoE status is provided to it, and many opined that this measure could lead to state government forgoing control over the well known educational institution.
Sources keenly following the education sector in this country watched these developments.
Vice chancellor is said to have spoken to the central government directly in this regard and that has not gone well with many in the state.
An enquiry committee was also set to look into irregularity charges agains the vice chancellor.
However, a few people have come in support of Surappa and said the process of establishing an enquiry committee is witch hunting.
8. Reservation of 7.5 percent
Another development in the education sector that turned cynosure of all eyes was introduction of 7.5 percent reservation for government school students in medical admissions based on their NEET exam results.
Tamil Nadu government passed a bill in September this year unanimously to provide 7.5 percent reservation.
A few ministers in Tamil Nadu also met the state governor to get his consent for the bill. Governor of Tamil Nadu gave his assent.
Sources said, the bill will be applied to all medical colleges in Tamil Nadu and they have to reserve 7.5 percent of their seats for government school students who have cleared NEET.
9. University of Delhi
The developments in the national capital with regards to the education sector attracted good deal of attention.
University of Delhi which is one of the reputed educational institutions in India was in the centre of news.
COVID-19 situation led to closure of many institutions and University of Delhi was no exception to it.
The institution made a shift towards online mode. However many sections felt conducting affairs online left room for lot of improvement.
Conducting of Open Book Examination (OBE) too received criticism from many quarters.
Many felt the way the OBE was conducted only showed how digital infrastructure deserved improvement.
Another development with regards to the same educational institution caught the attention of sources tracking the education sector.
The vice chancellor of Delhi University Yogesh Tyagi was suspended on charges of dereliction of duty and misconduct.
10. COVID-19 and reopening
Outbreak of corona virus led to closure of many institutions.
However, what made sources tracking the developments of education sector keep their eyes open were the prospects of reopening of schools and colleges.
While the admissions and classes have gone online, what remains to be seen is when will educational institutions open for physical classrooms.
Central government though issued SOPs in this regard, the ultimate decision was left to the respective state governments and district administrations.
Sources following the education sector in India say that major institutes like Delhi University, IGNOU would open for physical classrooms in 2021.
Certain state universities have already begun physical classes for selected practical courses.
Certain state governments have permitted school administration to conduct classes as board exams keeping in view the upcoming board exams.
While most of the educational institutions remained shut during this year, sources tracking education sector hope that 2021 will witness physical classroom sessions on a larger scale.
11. Education and investment
The education sector in India witnessed an inflow of USD 3.24 billion during April to March this year as per the information by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
What attracted the attention of experts tracking the education sector in India was allotment of funds.
Sources say, as per Union Budget 2020-21, Department of School Education and Literacy was allotted Rs 59,845 crore.
Another vital development with regards to education sector was announcement of Revitalising Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) at a proposed outlay of Rs 3,000 crore.
11. Lightest satellite
Student from Tamil Nadu amazed everyone with his impressive work.
A second year Mechatronics Engineering student of Sastra University is said to have designed the world’s lightest satellite.
This information with regards to education sector in India has come as a pleasant surprise for everyone.
S. Riyasdeen designed 37 mm FEMTO satellites namely – Vision SAT v1 and v2 which has a payload of 30mm that weighs 33 grams.
This has won the recognitin of being world’s lightest FEMTO satellite. The satellites designed by him will record 17 parametres with 11 sensors.
Vision Sat v1 is going to be a part of SR-7 NASA Rocket Mission which is expected to be launched in June next year from USA.
And, v2 will be a part of NASA Balloon Mission which will be launched in August next year.