14 engineering colleges to offer education in 5 languages: PM Modi

India's new National Education Policy is one of the major factors in 'mahayagna' of nation building, says PM Modi

Fourteen engineering colleges across eight states will start studies in five regional languages – Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Hindi and Bangla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

Addressing educationists, students, policy-makers to mark the first anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP), the Prime Minister said his government has also developed a tool for translating engineering courses into 11 Indian languages.

Modi also unveiled several education schemes including an academic bank of credits for deposit, withdrawal and storage of academic credentials, Vidya Pravesh – a three month play-based school preparation module for Grade 1 students, Indian Sign Language as a Subject at the secondary level.

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“Options like multiple entry and exit will free students from the restrictions of staying in one class and one course. Similarly, modern technology-based Academic Bank of Credit systems will bring revolutionary change. This will give confidence to the student in choosing streams and subjects,” the prime minister said.

He said the 'Structured Assessment for Analyzing Learning levels' – SAFAL – will take away the fear of examination.

The Prime Minister underlined the critical role of teachers from the formulation stage to implementation of the National Education Policy.

“NISHTHA 2.0, an integrated programme of teacher training designed by NCERT, launched today will provide training to teachers as per their needs and they will be able to give their suggestions to the department,” he said.

Modi said the Artificial Intelligence programme will make the student future-oriented and will pave the way for an AI-driven economy.

“Similarly, National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR) and National Education Technology Forum (NETF) will go a long way in providing a digital and technological framework to the entire country,” the prime minister said.

Modi said that for the first time the Indian sign language has been accorded the status of language subject, enabling students to learn it as a language.

“There are more than three lakh students who need sign language for their education. This will give a boost to Indian sign language and will help the divyang people,” said the prime minister.