‘Now is the time to build a true Bharatiya model curriculum to nurture a healthy society’

“A job is only a byproduct of education. Its true purpose is to create human beings,” National Organising Secretary of the Bharatiya Shikshana Mandal B.R. Shankaranand has said.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of the one-day National Conference on Bharatiya Model of Curriculum Design jointly organised by the Central University of Karnataka, Bharatiya Shikshana Mandal and Shetty Institute of Technology, Kalaburagi, on Thursday.

Mr. Shankaranand underlined the importance of developing an indigenous education framework.

“The British education system of 1835 derailed our curriculum to produce clerks and unfortunately, for the last 200 years, we have continued as mental slaves of that system. Now is the time to build a true Bharatiya model of curriculum, one that nurtures mentally and physically healthy individuals, strong families and a healthy society, which ultimately leads to a healthy nation. For this, education must be fearless and rooted in our own objectives and methodologies,” he said.

Stressing the need to move from teacher-centric to student-centric approaches, he added, “Education must be learning-centric and outcome-based. Teachers should be more than instructors. They must become Gurus, committed, dedicated and devoted. True education should make people realise the truth of the world and inspire them to be just, kind and truthful. NEP 2020 is a step in this direction, aiming to create true human beings.”

Vice-Chancellor of Central University Battu Satyanarayana, who presided over the programme as chief guest, highlighted India’s growing global relevance in education.

“Today, people across the world are coming to India to study our culture, philosophy, science and literature. The Indian education system emphasises family and social relationships which are needed now more than ever. The goal of Viksit Bharat is to provide a model education system for the world and this is possible through Indian curriculum design,” he said.

He added that outcome-based education, as envisaged by NEP 2020, values knowledge over certificates and gives true meaning to human life.

President of the Bharatiya Shikshana Mandal Uttar Prantya Basavaraj Anami and Director of Shetty Group of Institutes Anirudh Shetty also addressed the gathering.

Several dignitaries, including Udayashankar Shetty, Basavaraj Donur, G.R. Angadi, Ganesh Pawar, Basavaraj Kubakaddi, Sharanu Udanoor, Siddu Madarkandi, Ravindra Hegadi, Niteen and Pallavi Patil B., along with faculty members, invitees and delegates participated in the event.