Budget 2023 to Prioritise Vocational and Skill Education, Raise Teaching Standards

Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister, will announce the Budget 2023-24 on 1 February. The education industry expects a lot from the budget for 2023-24 this year. With budget allocation approaching, education experts and academics anticipate improved standards of teaching and delivery in institutions and a greater emphasis on vocational and skill education in secondary and higher education institutions.

What is the expected budgetary allocation for adult education and teacher training in 2022-2023?

"The budgetary allocation for adult education and teacher training in 2022-2023 was Rs 127 crores as opposed to Rs 250 crores in 2021-2022," IC3 Institute executive director Neha Bahl said of the Budget 2023. "Adult education and teacher training received a budget allocation of Rs 127 crores in 2022-2023, down from Rs 250 crores in 2021-2022. We predict that teacher training will receive a larger budget this year to implement NEP 2020 objectives properly. A specific fund may also be established to improve the education sector's human resource capability and efficiency. This will include introducing technical improvements and boosting teaching and delivery standards in both public and commercial institutions in India."

Budget 2023 to prioritise supporting the progressive integration of vocational and skill education

"Regular instructors must improve their core technical knowledge and abilities, and educational institutions must be able to create learning platforms that will enhance learner engagement and outcomes. Over the next decade, the budget should also prioritise supporting the progressive integration of vocational and skill education throughout secondary and higher education institutions. "She went on to say more. 

Further steps are expected to be taken by the Government

Experts in the ed-tech business anticipate developments such as increased financing for ed-tech startups, tax breaks for enterprises in the area, and the launch of new programmes to encourage technology in education. The Government may take other steps to help the sector, including investing in technology, encouraging cooperation, stressing lifelong learning, supporting online education, and stimulating research and experimentation.

What education industry expects from Budget 2023

Dr. Dishan Kamdar, Vice-Chancellor, FLAME University, said: “The nation's rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic has been a booster shot for the economy and Budget 2023 can be expected to reflect this confidence, which will translate into a positive impact on the Indian higher education system.

A stronger push for digitization, which will also benefit the Indian higher education system, is one of the government's priorities that we can anticipate in the upcoming Budget. An increased budgetary allocation for tech enhancement will support Indian HEIs' plans to raise their standards of excellence and become more competitive in a world that is becoming more digital and globalized. Having experienced the benefits of online pedagogy and how it can change the way education is delivered, Indian HEIs have increased the adoption of technology into their teaching and learning processes and upgraded their IT infrastructure. Along with this, the government may think about providing incentives to the telecom sector to invest, innovate, and improve infrastructure and internet connectivity, as well as provide digital devices at affordable prices, which will go a long way toward ensuring anywhere, anytime access to education for all.

Increasing funding for R&D is another significant way that the government can support the higher education system. Supporting HEIs to invest in research will fundamentally alter the nation's higher education system. Our institutions must invest in creating a research-oriented ecosystem that enables them to compare their performance to international standards of excellence, and the government's attention to this issue will be a key enabler. This gains significance in light of the UGC's plans to enable the international expansion of Indian educational institutions and establish foreign universities' campuses in India.”