Business Today – August 25, 2019

Any improvement in the education

sector in India has been in fits and

starts. So, while the draft National

Education Policy suggests changes

in all segments of the sector, online

coaching courses and MOOCs help

fill in the gaps.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DANESH JASSAWALA

REFORMING

EDUCATION

EDUCATION SPECIAL > OPENING ESSAY

ith all eyes on India’s burgeoning demographic divi-

dend, it is pertinent that the country makes the right

investments to continue on the path of economic

growth and prosperity. For that investment in hu-

man capital through quality education, skill training and provision

of productive jobs are the key. The 400-page National Education

Policy (NEP) draft, brought out by the Kasturirangan Committee,

which has come up with clearly stated objectives to be achieved

by 2030, received over 77,000 comments from across the coun-

try. While that is still being debated, Byju Raveendran, a former

classroom teacher, became India’s newest billionaire, driven by the

$6 billion valuation to the education app Bjyu’s developed by his

venture Think & Learn.

Education is increasingly becoming an attractive space. In

this Special Report on education, we take a hard look at the NEP.

While it is path breaking, there could be serious challenges in

funding and implementing it. While Byju’s is leveraging its learn-

ing app, many Indians are opting for a range of online offerings

like the massive open online courses (MOOCs) to upgrade skills

while working. That’s necessary in a world where artificial intel-

ligence and machine learning are taking up routine jobs. Even in

management courses, there is a demand for specialised courses.

Read about all this and more.

August 25 I 2019 I BUSINESS TODAY I 87

SLOW RISE
Education budget
for 2019/20 is just
4.6% of GDP
(Central government
expenditure in ` crore)

2017/18

2018/19

2019/20

46,600

33,614

50,114

33,512

56,537

38,317

Department

of School

Education

and Literacy

Department

of Higher

Education