Budget Expectations 2024-25: Things Education Sector Needs

Rekha Kejriwal Jan 22, 2024

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is ready to present the union budget 2024-25 in parliament in fews days from now. Many industry experts in the infrastructure, railway, health, aviation and education sectors have several expectations from the government in the upcoming budget. With the growing population of students in a young country like India, the education sector is at a crucial point. It is important to address the need for new educational institutions and the upgrading of infrastructure.

With the current global challenges and the paradigm shift towards digital education, stakeholders in the education sector are looking towards the government to address key issues and provide a roadmap for the development of a strong and inclusive educational system.

Reinforce special education programmes:

The budget should prioritise improving the quality of education by implementing measures to increase access and promote inclusivity. This includes tackling educational inequalities, especially among marginalised communities, through specific approaches such as scholarships, affirmative action policies and the reinforcement of special education programmes.

Digital infrastructure and connectivity:

In the 2023-2024 union budget, the government helped by reducing the prices of electronic goods like phones and batteries, but it did not contribute much to reducing the digital gaps. Now, the education sector expects significant investments in digital infrastructure, such as internet access and devices. This is to ensure that every student, regardless of their location, can access quality online education. It also includes providing faster and more affordable internet to rural areas and distributing digital devices to students who may not have much money.

More programmes for student mental health:

With increasing academic pressure and more screen time among students, it becomes important to designate a segment of funds for wellbeing initiatives and programmes. Addressing mental health and providing emotional counseling to students as part of their regular curriculum would be beneficial. Offering students professional guidance and assistance serves as valuable resources to help them gain coping mechanisms and increase resilience. As a result, it promotes an environment conducive to effective learning.

Teacher training and professional development:

Teachers are the backbone of any education system and due to a lack of training, we observe that many teachers lack the skills needed to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of education. The budget is eagerly awaited in anticipation of initiatives that focus on training and professional development. The education sector must prioritise emerging technologies, fostering a robust e-learning infrastructure with AI, AR, VR, ML and the Metaverse.

Career awareness programmes and the unemployment board to address job vacancies:

Many hope the budget will allocate substantial resources to initiatives that promote career awareness, guiding individuals towards informed and well-planned career choices. There should be a programme for parent's awareness as they often focus on calculating ROI but invest less in the overall research and development of their children. Additionally, the establishment of an unemployment board is eagerly awaited to systematically address job vacancies, bridging the gap between job seekers and available opportunities.

Tax subsidy on education loans:

Expectations in the upcoming union budget, centre on possible tax relief for education loans for the middle class. Many are hopeful that the government will consider measures to alleviate the financial burden on students and their families by providing tax incentives for interest payments on education loans. Such relief would not only ease the financial strain on those pursuing higher education but also serve as a significant encouragement for individuals seeking to invest in their academic aspirations.

Summing up

The education sector is expecting that the union budget for 2024-25, holds the potential to shape the future of education in India. We expect the government to prioritise the concept of STEAM education while allocating the budget, concurrently emphasising the promotion of art education. This approach aims to encourage more students to explore non-traditional education streams for their career choices. A well-crafted budget, addressing the outlined expectations, can contribute significantly to the nation's goal of fostering a knowledgeable, skilled and innovative population.