Pradhan calls for greater industry role in schools, skilling and R&D

India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan called on industry leaders to deepen involvement in government schools, vocational training, and research and development (R&D) during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Annual Business Summit in New Delhi. Pradhan proposed integrating structured internships, apprenticeships, and credit-based learning under the National Education Policy (Nep), suggesting students from Class IX could spend 7–15 days in factories, retail outlets, or corporate offices to gain practical experience. The minister emphasized the need for industry support in nutrition, infrastructure, and skill education, noting that arts, sports, and vocational subjects were introduced from Class VI to reduce textbook dependency. He criticized low private-sector R&D engagement, despite the government’s ₹1 trillion fund, and urged companies to scale domestic innovation through initiatives like Bharat Innovate instead of relying on imported technology. Department of School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar announced AI-driven tools to generate classroom content, lesson plans, and assessments, aiming to improve teaching quality under Nep. He highlighted a systemic challenge: only 62 out of 100 children who enter Class I reach Class XII, stressing the need for better teacher training and pedagogy. Kumar also pointed to a stark gap in vocational education, with India’s 9% high-school enrollment in skill-based courses lagging far behind South Korea’s 90%. He set a goal for every Class XII graduate to possess at least one core employable skill within a decade. The Nep has also expanded pre-primary education and prioritized foundational learning, marking a shift in India’s curriculum structure.