How Has 2023 Changed Indian Education: The Year in Review

Key Takeaways

• The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced significant reforms in 2023, focusing on diverse, growth-oriented, and innovative curricula.
• The education sector saw a budget increase to ₹1,12,899.47 crore, reflecting a positive move towards better funding for education.
• Premier Indian institutions, such as IIT Madras and IIT Delhi, opened offshore campuses, marking India's efforts to internationalise education.
• High inflation, geopolitical tensions, and immigration policies posed challenges, while new destinations and increased scholarship demands offered opportunities for Indian students.

The educational journey in the year 2023 was significant. From changes in the K-12 format, implementation of National Education Policy across the spectrum, the resurgence of abroad studies and shake-ups in the Edtech sector, the year saw quite a few ups and downs.

The year ended with the promise of shaping the future of education planning in the country. Let us delve into some of the significant developments that will guide the educational journey of the students in the coming years.

National Education Policy Changed the Landscape

The National Education Policy (NEP) has brought remarkable changes since its enactment in 2020. In 2023, significant reforms were introduced, paving the way for a more diverse, growth-focused, and innovative curriculum. These changes represent a positive step towards improving child education in India.

Key Reforms Under NEP

1. National Curriculum Framework Pre-draft: The introduction of the 5+3+3+4 structure for foundational to secondary education incorporated pre-primary education into the mainstream framework.

2. Textbooks in Multiple Languages: To accommodate linguistic diversity, textbooks were made available in 22 official languages.

3. Master’s Degree Program: The US State Department designed a Master’s degree program aligned with NEP, with more programs expected to follow.

4. Board Exam Reforms: Only Class 10 and 12 exams are considered for board assessments, focusing on critical thinking and practical knowledge instead of rote learning. No merit list or distinctions are published.

5. Online Degree Courses and Credit Transfer: The NEP included UGC guidelines for online degree courses and credit transfer through the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), a digital repository of students' credit histories. By October 2023, approximately 2 crore students had registered for the ABC.

Better Budget Allocation for Education

The budget for the education sector increased to ₹1,12,899.47 crore this fiscal year from ₹1,04,277.72 crore in the previous fiscal year. The school education department received the largest share at ₹68,804.85 crore, while the higher education sector received ₹44,904.62 crore to enhance funding for many central institutes.

Major Initiatives Under the Union Budget

1. National Digital Library: Establishing a digital library for children and adolescents.

2. 5G Labs: Creating 100 labs for developing applications using 5G services.
3. Artificial Intelligence Centres: Setting up three Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence.
4. Institutions of Eminence: A 25% increase in the budget allocation for India’s Institutions of Eminence.
5. PM SHRI Scheme: Preparing more than 15,000 schools of excellence under the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) Scheme.

Indian Institutions Went Global

Premier Indian institutions are expanding internationally, opening branches overseas.

1. IIT Madras: Established an offshore campus in Zanzibar, Tanzania, with the first batch of undergraduate and postgraduate students starting classes in AI and Data Science.
2. IIT Delhi: Set to open its Abu Dhabi campus in January 2024.
3. CBSE Schools in the UAE: More than 100 CBSE-affiliated schools operate in the UAE, and CBSE will open an administrative office in Dubai in 2023.

Future Plans

African and Gulf nations, Thailand, and Vietnam are potential destinations for Indian universities to set up campuses, according to UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar. This global expansion marks a significant stride in internationalising India’s education.

New Challenges Emerged for Studying Abroad

While foreign education recovered from the pandemic, high inflation, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, geopolitical tensions, and economic instability made studying abroad more challenging for students.

Key Challenges

1. Immigration Policies: News about Canada's plan to cap the number of international students, Australia's limited work hours for students, and the UK tightening immigration laws made headlines.

2. Mental Health and Living Challenges: Issues faced by Indian students abroad highlighted the need for expert help before planning to study abroad.
3. Fake Degree Scams: The emergence of fake degree scams underscored the importance of consulting study abroad consultants.

Opportunities

1. New Study Destinations: Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore emerged as favourites due to lower tuition fees, post-study work opportunities, and favourable immigration policies.

2. Course Preferences: STEM courses, followed by business and management programs, showed the highest interest among students.
3. Scholarship Demand: The demand for scholarships and financial aid programs rose, reflecting the cost of education and living expenses for Indian families.

Education Journey Became a Necessity

The future belongs to those who predict and prepare for it. The impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, remnants of the Covid-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and new technologies served as a wake-up call for parents. Traditional methods of planning their child's education no longer guarantee success.

Comprehensive Education Journey

More parents turned to creating an education journey for their child in 2023. This comprehensive roadmap includes educational needs, expenses, and major financial investments. It outlines a roadmap for the child's educational goals, assesses psychometric needs, identifies areas needing expert help, and provides protection against unforeseen events.

Investing for child education has become crucial for parents who want to ensure a secure and successful future for their children. Education planning now involves a detailed approach to meet the unpredictable demands of the future.

These defining moments shaped Indian education in 2023. While the rapidly rising cost of education remained a constant worry for parents, many solutions emerged to manage expenses. Students' dreams grew bigger, and technology and institutions rose to the challenge. As we move forward, 2024 promises to provide student-centric resources and parent-friendly solutions for accessible, quality education. New trends and challenges will emerge, but one thing remains constant - we will be ready.