NEW DELHI: Describing Artificial Intelligence as a “good catalyst” and a “bridge”, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at the Express Adda Friday that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 focuses on using technology to “fill learning gaps” and “take education to inaccessible areas”.
Responding to a question on NEP and whether it can meet the challenges posed by AI, Pradhan said: “The policy came in 2020, but work began in 2014. The document was brought after six years of homework. The policy gives importance to making technology a means to fill learning gaps. AI and technology were there before as well. But now there is a new momentum. Using technology to take education to inaccessible areas is a focus of the policy. Policy should be futuristic. After AI, there will be quantum…then there will be more challenges. The NEP has visualised these things, which is why it has said that our education system will be rooted and futuristic, and technology will be the bridge.”
Pointing out that making education affordable and accessible is a challenge, he said: “The new education system, new textbooks, new approach that is coming with the NEP, considering global needs…in this, AI will be a good bridge, and a good catalyst. It will be in favour of the field of education in the country.”
The Express Adda was moderated by Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor, The Indian Express.
Responding to another question on foundational learning in the mother tongue, Pradhan said, “The Government has never said that it should only be Hindi…we are saying that in Tamil Nadu, learning should be in Tamil; in Kerala, it should be in Malayalam…Odia in Odisha, Bengali in West Bengal, Punjabi in Punjab. In Hindi regions, it should be in Hindi. This has been our belief. That’s what the NEP says.”
He said: “Up to class 5, the medium of instruction should be the mother tongue. Then critical thinking will be clear…what they learn as a second language, it is up to the choice of the student. From class 6 to 10, there will be a third language. The NEP says that the third language should be an Indian language. From a political angle, some people say they are opposed to the NEP. But there is no state in the country that disagrees with learning in the mother tongue at the primary level. In this age of technology, I don’t think there is any dilemma in this.”
Pointing to countries like Germany, Japan and China using their mother tongues, he said: “The languages of our civilisation are Indian languages. We need to give importance to Indian languages if we need to make big leaps.”
To improve enrollment in higher education, Pradhan said there is a need to set up new institutions, “make our regulatory regime more liberal”, bring in philanthropic investment and increase state funding.
Asked about the UGC regulations on equity, which the Supreme Court has recently stayed, Pradhan said: “Our Constitution says there should not be any discrimination. It is said very clearly in Article 14 and 15. The UGC regulations are sub-judice. The Government will not allow injustice against anybody, no matter who it is. This is the Government’s responsibility.”