BATHINDA: The Department of Education (School of Education) at the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CU Punjab), under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, organized the inaugural ceremony of the ICSSR-sponsored Two-Day National Seminar on “School for Rising India (PM SHRI): Nurturing Holistic Individuals for 21st-Century Skills.”
The Chief Guest of the inaugural session was Prof. Dinesh Prasad Saklani, Director, NCERT, New Delhi, who delivered the keynote address. In his speech, he elaborated on the transformative vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, its implementation through the National Curriculum Frameworks (NCF), and the role of PM SHRI Schools in shaping the future of Indian education. He highlighted NEP 2020’s focus on holistic, experiential, and inclusive education, moving away from rote learning to foster critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. The policy introduces a 5+3+3+4 pedagogical structure, promotes multilingual learning, and integrates vocational, arts, and physical education to ensure equity and inclusion.
Discussing PM SHRI Schools, launched in September 2022, Prof. Saklani described them as model institutions demonstrating best educational practices. The initiative aims to upgrade 14, 500 schools across India, focusing on modern infrastructure, technology-enabled learning, and 21st-century skills. These schools will mentor others, driving innovation, experiential learning, and quality education. Prof. Saklani also outlined the six foundational pillars of PM SHRI Schools, which include curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment; inclusive practices and equity; access and infrastructure; management and governance; human resource development; and community participation. He emphasized that the integration of NCERT’s educational expertise with the PM SHRI implementation framework will create an effective ecosystem where theory meets practice, ultimately enhancing learning outcomes and setting new benchmarks in school education across India.
In his presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari commended Prof. Saklani’s efforts in redesigning the school curriculum and NCERT textbooks in alignment with Bharatiya philosophy. He emphasized that the UNESCO Four Pillars of Education and Bloom’s Taxonomy’s Six Levels of Learning are deeply inspired by the Bharatiya Gurukul System, which focused on experiential learning, curiosity, creativity, and analytical thinking. He expressed confidence that this seminar would deepen participants' understanding of the PM SHRI School initiative, inspiring educators to adopt its principles in their institutions and lead regional educational transformation through high-quality, equitable, and inclusive education.
Welcoming the participants, Prof. Kiran Hazarika, Pro Vice-Chancellor of CUPB, stated that PM SHRI Schools embody the transformative reforms of NEP 2020, aligning education with the Indian Knowledge System. He emphasized that these schools provide a conducive environment for students’ holistic development, contributing to the realization of Viksit Bharat@2047.
During the inaugural session Prof. Shankar Lal Bika, Dean, School of Education, introduced the keynote speaker and highlighted the overwhelming response the seminar received, with 180 abstracts submitted by participants from across the country. The seminar covered ten key sub-themes, including the PM SHRI Guiding Framework, Quality Assurance of PM SHRI Schools, Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment, Teacher Education in the Context of NEP 2020 and SDG 4, Access and Infrastructure, Human Resource and School Leadership, Inclusive Practices and Gender Equity, Management, Monitoring, and Governance, Beneficiary Satisfaction in PM SHRI Schools, and the School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF).
During these two days, the experts and participants will dwell on different sub themes of seminar. The Valedictory session will be held on Tuesday.