“Vidya Bharati is going to complete 75 years of work. Vidya Bharati has seen and experienced a lot in this long journey and has consulted with senior academics. Discussions have been held on the reports of various educational institutions. Despite being an NGO, our progress in a diverse country is remarkable. Despite the multi-diversity of metros, villages and tribal areas, Vidya Bharati runs schools in 15-16 languages. Many works have been done by connecting with the mother tongue of the states,” said Dr Krishna Gopal, Sah Sarkaryavah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at the Akhil Bharatiya Sadharan Sabha of Vidya Bharati, Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan, held on April 7-9, 2023, at Janseva Vidyakendra, Channanahalli, Bengaluru.
“Today we have students in all walks of life. However, in a country of 130 crore, 35 lakh children are not big marks. So now we have to move forward. We have to do what to give up, what to add, by considering what is right and wrong. Based on your analysis, you have to ensure this. This thinking has to be done at every level from top to bottom. The National Education Policy is of timely innovations and values of life, which we have to implement with full preparation and passion. The country is undergoing unprecedented changes. The country’s growth rate has come down to 2.5 today. There are fewer children in homes. Therefore, the idea of good children’s education is being reflected in the NEP. The government and parents are all thinking about quality education. What do we have to do and what not to do in the education given by Vidya Bharati? How to do? This needs to be considered,” said Dr Krishna Gopal.
While giving more inputs about its work, Dr Krishna Gopal further said, “Data worth Rs 9 lakh has been compiled on Vidya Bharati alumni portal. It is estimated that their number will be around 40 lakhs. We have to inculcate the spirit of “My School” in our alumni. This mantra of Shikshavalli of the Taitiriya Upnishad will be able to act as a initiation mantra – “Satyam Vad.” “Dharmam char”. Acharya Devo Bhava. Matri devo Bhava. Pitri Devo Bhava. Atithi Devo Bhava…..”
Dr Krishna Gopal further said that among the many crises in the education sector, one of the crises is the medium of language. All the best educationists in the world believe that education in the mother tongue is the best. But the tsunami of the West is also on us. However, we are of the considered opinion that our schools should run classes in the mother tongue. It is necessary to maintain the quality of teaching and the quality of language.
In the concluding session of the General Assembly, Dr Krishna Gopal said that the world scenario is constantly changing. Due to this change, new challenges are in front of all of us. Due to the influence of the material world, there has been a change in our lifestyle. The world has moved towards collecting information, but a holistic vision of human creation still needs to be improved. The soul of Bharat is different. Bharat has given knowledge to the world that increases the depth of mind and heart. Vidya Bharati’s goal is to awaken the spiritual values in the new generation and provide them with worldly education. We have to move towards our goal by coordinating the National Education Policy experience and Vidya Bharati experience.
“An atmosphere conducive to Vidya Bharati is being created in the society. There are many good opportunities for the karyakartas of Vidya Bharati to work with their participation and activism. The role of change in the field of education is becoming clear. According to NEP, the training of the Acharyas has been done by Vidya Bharati. But there is a need for intensive and continuous training. Vidya Bharati alumni are living in 65 countries. Vidya Bharati’s speed has also increased in higher education. He said that we have to expand the scope of our work but will never give up the basic principle. We have to be prepared according to the need and also think about the future,” said D Ramakrishna Rao, President of Vidya Bharati, in his proposed address.
Notably, 284 delegates from all over the country participated in the Sadharan Sabha. This meeting is held annually. Issues like working conditions across the country, scope of work, quality of education, implementation of National Education Policy, alumni activism etc. were discussed prominently in this meeting.
Renowned educationist Dr MK Sridhar was the chief guest at the inaugural session. Sridhar said that Vidya Bharati has been making significant contributions to the work of the National Education Policy since 2017. Dr Kasturirangan has expected Vidya Bharati from the point of view of implementation. “We can make policies by words and letter but implementation can be done only by commitment.” Vidya Bharati can perform this ritual from its network and resources. He informed that National Curriculum Framework (NCF) is likely to be ready for all levels by April-end and plans are afoot to have textbooks in all 22 Bharatiya languages by February 2024.
In this three-day general body meeting, a report of various topics running under Vidya Bharati such as sports, science, mathematics, Sewa-shiksha, tribal area education, alumni council, Sanskriti-bodh project, Shishuvatika, Manak Parishad etc. was also presented. Geographical expansion, implementation of the National Education Policy, quality improvement in schools, education narrative, finance management were discussed.
In the general body meeting, the karyakartas presented special social change projects. These included Jhanskar Valley, Ladakh, Tepla district Ambala Haryana, Chandrapur, Guwahati (Assam), Thuamul, Kalahandi (Odisha) Tribal Area, Kothara Project Banswara (Rajasthan), Vedic Vidyapeetham Chichot Harda (Madhya Pradesh), Pandatarai (Chhattisgarh) presented by PPT.
