The just-released Economic Survey 2023-24 lays adequate emphasis on the need for the Centre and state governments to pool in their efforts towards enhancing the quality of education in India. One will have to see, therefore, the focusing on primary education and effectively bringing about execution of well-designed programmes on this score.

The Economic Survey takes cognizance of the NEP 2020 as a radical step in making at least one child passing the third standard truly foundationally literate and numerate. Indeed, it is meant to transform India’s educational ecosystem by laying the base for sweeping educational reforms.

The Economic Survey specifically focuses on the need to integrate this purpose and the efforts of the central government, state governments, and local bodies in order to improve the quality of education, especially at the primary level. It holds the view that public education requires collaborative effort for effectiveness and positive results.

The Economic Survey has underscored that education is the most important sector in the country’s development. It also brought out the point that from now on, well-meaning schemes in this area should be implemented in mission mode and with value-for-money. It has brought out the fact that additional years of education are of little value if the foundations are not firmly laid during primary education.

The Economic Survey openly confesses to these challenges, be it infrastructure gaps, inadequate teacher availability, or learning gaps at the base in the education sector. It has pointed out that well-targeted interventions would be needed in capacity building of teachers, using technology for learning remotely, and promoting more inclusive education.

The Economic Survey principally emphasizes the need for a cooperative arrangement between the Centre and state governments in building synergies that can ensure the proper implementation of educational policies and programs. It urges the sharing of best practices, learning from successful models, and leveraging the strengths of each state to create a strong and inclusive education system.

The Economic Survey 2023-24 calls upon the efforts to converge  so that there is an improvement in the quality of education in India, particularly primary education. It recognises the role of the National Education Policy 2020 and believes there has to be unity of purpose if these educational programmes are to be implemented effectively. Focusing on improved educational outcomes will be the way forward towards a brighter future for the students of the country and for developing the nation as a whole.