Challenges in Human Capital for 'Viksit Bharat'

The education ministry has highlighted significant human capital challenges as India strives for 'Viksit Bharat'. These challenges will be addressed in the Fifth National Conference of Chief Secretaries, chaired by the Prime Minister, focusing on creating a 'future ready workforce' by leveraging India's demographic dividend.

Current Scenario and Challenges

• Education Imbalance:
  • Low mean years of schooling (7.33 years) compared to high expected years (13.3 years).
  • Low Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), especially at the secondary level (66.5%).
  • Substantial age-grade disparity resulting in heterogeneous classrooms.
• Dropout Rates:
  • Approximately 48.9 lakh children never enrolled, and 1.42 crore dropped out of school.
  • Dropout rates are 3.7% at foundational, 5.2% at preparatory, and 10.9% at secondary stages.
• Fragmented School System:
  • Ten categories of schools necessitate multiple admission processes.
  • Significant vacancies in teaching positions across all levels.
• Learning Gaps:
  • Only 36%-37% show mathematical proficiency in classes 8-9.
  • Less than 55% demonstrate language proficiency in similar grades.
  • Enrolment of children with special needs is merely 0.85%.

Private Schools and Funding

• Private School Reforms:
  • Only 5%-10% of private schools have implemented educational reforms.
• Investment in Education:
  • Suggested increase in educational investment to 6% of GDP.

Technology and Workforce Challenges

• Tech Training:
  • 63 out of 100 Indian workers need training on new technologies by 2030.
  • Over 2.3 million AI jobs are expected by 2027, but only 1.2 million skilled professionals will be available.
• Industry-Academia Gap:
  • Lack of standard templates for collaboration affects curriculum delivery.
  • Weak technology transfer and unclear IP rights hinder innovation scale-up.

Overall, addressing these challenges is crucial for building a skilled workforce that meets the demands of a tech-driven future.