India is building global competencies to fulfill 21st century aspirations, he said

India is commited to foster long-term and mutually beneficial educational cooperation in sync with the complementarities outlined in the Manila Action Plan, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has said.

The objectives of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) uphold the principles of the Manila Action Plan on Education, Pradhan said at the 5th East Asia Summit (EAS) Education Ministers Meeting on Friday.

The policy focused on universalisation of education, ensuring equity, quality, affordability & flexibility, and technology-based learning, he noted.

"India is building global competencies to fulfill 21st century aspirations," said Pradhan.

According to the Minister, India remains committed to forge meaningful partnerships in making education and skills more inclusive, affordable, equitable, vibrant and aspirational.

He reaffirmed India’s support to strengthening research and academic collaborations, including in TVET, promoting student & academic exchanges for fulfilling aspirations of the students.

During his address, Pradhan also spoke about the multi-modal digital interventions like PM-eVidya, Swayam, and Diksha, which ensured continuity of learning during the pandemic and also on the continuous efforts to ramp up the digital infrastructure to facilitate on demand learning and bridge the digital divide.