PM Modi announces Academic Bank of Credit system allowing course flexibility in higher education

The Prime Minister highlighted the openness and absence of pressure in the New Education Policy. He said that there is an openness at policy level and openness is also visible in the options available to the students. 

Options like multiple entry and exit will free students from the restrictions of staying in one class and one course.

Announcing a host of new measures, Modi said: "Similarly, modern technology based Academic Bank of Credit system will bring revolutionary change. This will give confidence to the student in choosing stream and subjects."

The Prime Minister reiterated that these new programmes have the capability to change India’s destiny.

Modi noted the changes brought by the pandemic and how normal online education became for the students. "More than 23 hundred crore hits on Diksha portal bear testimony to the utility of portals like Diksha and Swayam," he said.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of local languages as a medium of instructions.

Modi informed that 14 engineering colleges of 8 states are starting to impart education in 5 Indian languages Hindi, Tamil, Telugu. Marathi and Bangla.

A tool has been developed for translating engineering course in 11 languages.

"This emphasis on mother tongue as the medium of instruction will instil confidence in the students from poor, rural and tribal background. Even in elementary education, the mother tongue is being promoted and the Vidya Pravesh progamme, launched today, will play a big role in that," he said.

He also informed that Indian sign language, for the first time, has been accorded the status of language subject. Students will be able to study it as language also.

"There are more than 3 lakh student 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.