National Education Day 2022: Changing Course, Transforming Education

Educationists should build the capacities of the spirit of inquiry, creativity, entrepreneurial and moral leadership among students and become their role model

— Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Each year, November 11 is celebrated as National Education Day or Rashtriya Shiksha Diwas to honour the contributions made by India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The country’s official announcement was by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in 2008 to observe the day.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development keeps different themes for National Education Day every year keeping into consideration the country’s education sector and the progress made. This year the theme is: Changing Course, Transforming Education.

The day is celebrated to improve and enhance the quality of education among students in the country. Since Maulana Azad laid the foundation for an independent Indian education system, the day also memorialises his contributions. He was an advocator of universal primary education for girls, free compulsory education for all children below the age of 14, and vocational and technical training something that the National Education Policy 2020 lays stress.

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“Education is the development of a complete being. This means the development of the body, mind, and even the soul”

–Girish Kumar, Principal, Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg

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According to Girish Kumar, Principal, Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg, Jalandhar education encompasses the development of not just the mind, but the complete human being. “Education is the development of a complete being. This means the development of the body, mind, and even the soul. This can only be attained through training of the heart, head, and hand. As an educator, I ensure that the children under my care get exposure to different experiences that train them in part to attain the desired whole. It is man-making in the truest sense of the term,” Kumar said.

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“To be able to differentiate between what is right and wrong is education”

–Priti Wason, Principal, Apeejay Svran Global School, Faridabad

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Priti Wason, Principal, Apeejay Svran Global School, Faridabad in Sector 21-D opines that it is not literacy that is of importance but being educated that makes a difference in a person’s life.

“Life has never been easy. To be honest, it is not all about being literate but being educated is what matters in life. We have daily challenges and strategic dealing needs a sound logical analysis. This can only be combatted through education. There is a difference between literacy and education. To be able to differentiate between what is right and wrong is education. It is difficult to imagine doing justice to mankind without education,” Wason stressed.

Contributions of Maulana Azad to the education sector

1. Under his tenure as Education Minister, UGC, AICTE, the Kharagpur Institute for Higher Education, the University Board of Education, and the Secondary School Board were set up.
2. Institutes like Jamia Millia Islamia and IIT Kharagpur were established.
3. He established the Sahitya Academy, Lalit Kala Academy, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Sangeet Natak Academy, and the Scientific and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).