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Speaking in the upcoming Union Budget 2021, Rajeev Tiwari, Founder of STEMROBO Technologies said, “The Budget can focus on a more comprehensive and extensive way our young students in the K-12 segment get exposure to Innovation and Tinkering while in school.”
EXPECTATIONS:
Increase focus on Innovation and IPR in Education at the School Level:
The Budget can focus on a more comprehensive and extensive way our young students in the K-12 segment get exposure to Innovation and Tinkering while in school. Therefore, by the time they graduate, we have some real innovators at our doorstep. It is high time the Indian students and professionals get a boost in recognition of their innovations via Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). There has to be a culture within the country to promote brain gain.
Considering this, there’s a government scheme of developing Atal Tinkering Lab through which around 5000+ ATL Labs are already set up, but given the fact that there are 1.5 Million+ Schools in India, there is still a lot that needs to be done. Undoubtedly, the establishment of thousands of Atal Tinkering Labs across 715 districts of India enabled students from grade 6 to grade 12 to learn and experience the tinkering tools and equipment and develop innovative projects to solve community issues like never before.
India improved its ranking in the Global Innovation index to 48th in 2020 from 52nd Position in 2019. But still, there are many requirements to be done if we have to take Innovation at the grass-root level and make it significant for the masses.
Reducing the GST Rate:
Govt has been giving so much emphasis on the penetration of Digital Services and Financial Inclusion in the BFSI Segment. Still, as far as Education is concerned, only Conventional School Education has been kept out of GST. Innovation and Tinkering based Ed-Tech firms still have to pay GST @18%. There should be some provision wherein they need to pay a Reduced GST@5% or so.
Push Towards Technology-based Learning Wherein Quality of Education Delivery is Effectively Monitored:
Until now, the emphasis in Education Delivery for the Government Sector at the K-12 level has usually been on Quantity, Improving Education Scope and Spread. However, there seems to be a growing need for Indian students to organize themselves and be serious about their companions worldwide.
To achieve this, the Technology-Oriented Curriculum Delivery, based on technique, pedagogy in line with the demands of the 21st Century Skills, should be assimilated in our Education Delivery for K-12 Students and Schools. Budget 2021 should allow for improved accentuation and discretionary designation to resolve these concerns.
Enhancing Teachers Capacity and Skill Building:
There is a shortage of millions of teachers in our education system. At the same time, there is a need to update and redesign current teachers’ qualifications so that they can train their aspirants for the demands of the future. Budget 2021 should also include provisions and proposals for Teachers’ Abilities, taking into account the digital sustainability, development, enhancement, and acceleration of the study patterns.