Via Festival of Education, Rajasthan Government Glamorizes Education with Intellectual Sessions & Activity Based Learning to Lure More Students to School…
Over the years we’ve been told that school is the lighthouse of the society and knowledge its powerful lamp. Together, they empower young minds to create a better future for any country. 70 years since Independence, teachers and the education departments have been endlessly parroting this very aphorism to ’empower’ and divert younger generation towards education, with little success.
Education, with the changing times, has invited and embraced commercialism. It’s true that education is the key to unlocking the world. It facilitates advancement of knowledge, dissemination of truth and builds a good character with intellect and ethical thinking. Sadly, the modern-day definition of education has been reduced to passing classes with flying colors- a notion that needs immediate redressal.
Education, without rational thinking, innovation and novel ideas, fails at delivering results. After a while, geriatric concepts and teaching methods get tedious and boring, probably that’s why the younger generations seek knowledge outside classrooms. This very idea is evident from the fact that around 47 million youths drop out of school at a young age, according to a 2016 UNESCO report.
For a big state like Rajasthan, expediting education for all was difficult, but not impossible. Committed to developing a ‘One Young Rajasthan,’ the government made major changes to its ‘Vision Goals 2022.’ ‘Adarsh Vidyalaya’ based on ‘Vivekanand Model’ replaced old classrooms. 3D-projectors/ smart boards substituted blackboards.
The state has big things on its agenda:
- 2 new universities
- 14 government colleges
- 32 new degree colleges
- 5 polytechnics
- 5 engineering colleges
- 50 graduate colleges and
- 100 new subjects
The fund for infrastructure was increased to accommodate 28 lakh students. The government built ‘Sharda Hostels’ for hostellers and hired new teachers to boost teacher-student ration from 1:65 to 1:20. But that’s not all! Adding creativity and interesting concepts to education was the need of the hour!
Hence, Rajasthan education department, under CM Vasundhara Raje, collaborated with global education provider GEMS Education to inculcate activity-based learning inside classrooms. The first ever Festival of Education organized in Jaipur from August 5-6 gives a kickstart to an academic revolution in Rajasthan.
Activity-based learning is critical for strengthening the foundation of elementary school education. Together, the pioneers of education will distribute kits in schools to simplify teaching. It’ll make classroom learning simple, spontaneous, joyful and more engaging.
The education department will rope in celebrities like Shankar Mahadevan, Akshay Kumar, Sushmita Sen, Manish Malhotra, and Shabana Azmi to add the ‘star factor.’ Glamorizing education through constructive narratives, practical demonstrations, case studies and celebrity influence at the Jaipur festival of education shall pave the way to the dream ‘Education for All.’
At higher levels, the department would initiate one-month induction training of teachers for delivering concepts. Choice-based credit systems and vocational courses will develop critical and functional skills in students, preparing them for the future challenges.
Like GRAM celebrated agriculture and Resurgent Rajasthan celebrated entrepreneurship, Jaipur Education Festival celebrates novel ideas, innovation, and knowledge, like never before! The biggest global meet of intellectuals, teachers, and students is aimed at taking the state and national educational ecosystem to a whole new level.
With this, Rajasthan is poised to be the new intellectual capital of India, empowering students and developing a rational thinking for practical life.
