Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has just presented the Union Budget 2022 and made several announcements in her budget speech for the growth and development of the country.
Of the many path-breaking announcements and initiatives, the Finance Minister said that a digital university will be established to provide access to students across the country for world-class quality universal education with a personalized learning experience at their doorsteps. She said that the content will be made available in different Indian languages and the best institutions in the country will collaborate as a network of hub and spoke.
Reacting to the announcements made by the Finance Minister, many welcome the move, and here is what some of the EdTech founders, education leaders, and investors say about the Union Budget on education.
Gerald Jaideep, CEO, Medvarsity, India’s emerging healthcare EdTech brand offering online/blended learning fellowship and certificate courses to healthcare professionals:
“In her Budget 2022 address, Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman made several announcements which collectively will boost the health EdTech sector. The rollout of 5G was much anticipated, and the tech industry is elated to learn that 5G spectrum auctions will happen this year. This will definitely open up tremendous opportunities for the online education sector to leverage high-speed data connectivity and innovate better learning and education products especially in subjects like medical education where visual demonstrations play a big part in imparting knowledge and virtual experience. With the budget, the Government has reaffirmed its position on three important verticals: the ramping up of digital infrastructure across the urban and rural landscape, the launch of an open platform for the national digital health ecosystem, and the increased focus on online education, learning, and skilling through initiatives such as the launch of PM eVidya, Digital University, Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood – the DESH-Stack eportal. All these initiatives will further knowledge transfer, education, learning, and skilling across geographies through digital means. As a leading health EdTech company, we look forward to the integration of these factors with that of health education and medical training, which will help the sector scale and further advance level health education to healthcare workforce across India.”