In a significant initiative fostering international collaboration and scientific curiosity, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, flagged off 20 school students selected to participate in the Sakura Science Programme 2025. The ceremony was led by Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), alongside senior officials, including Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi, Joint Secretary, and Prof. Prakash Chandra Agrawal, Joint Director, NCERT.

The Sakura Science Programme, initiated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), aims to promote youth exchange in science across Asia. India joined the initiative in 2016. Since then, over 600 Indian students have experienced Japan’s technological landscape through this unique programme.

This year’s cohort—comprising 7 boys and 13 girls—represents Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and government schools across remote and diverse regions such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. The programme runs from June 15 to 21, 2025, and includes participants from Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ukraine.

Speaking at the event, Shri Sanjay Kumar described the programme as a “golden opportunity to explore a developed nation like Japan,” urging students to fully engage with its potential to inspire innovation and global understanding.

Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which underscores experiential learning and interdisciplinary exploration, this initiative strengthens India’s vision of holistic, engaging education. Japan—renowned for its technological excellence and rich culture—continues to be a valued partner in shaping the next generation of Indian innovators.

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In a renewed push for public health education, the Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi, has instructed all government and private schools to actively observe June as Anti-Malaria Month, ahead of the monsoon season.

The directive, issued through an official circular on Friday, calls upon heads of government, government-aided, and private unaided recognised schools to implement proactive measures for malaria prevention and awareness. This follows an earlier advisory from April 15 on the control of vector-borne diseases, including dengue and chikungunya.

The circular reiterates the Ministry of Health’s national goal of eliminating malaria by 2030. “June is observed annually as Anti-Malaria Month to raise awareness, promote community participation, and sustain preventive efforts before the onset of monsoon,” the DoE noted.

Schools have been urged to conduct regular inspections to eliminate stagnant water and potential mosquito breeding grounds. The circular recommends that institutions display malaria prevention do’s and don’ts prominently on campus. An annexure with precautionary measures has been provided for this purpose.

The directive further encourages schools to sensitise their staff on the risks and symptoms of vector-borne diseases. It also suggests using social media platforms to disseminate awareness messages, alongside organising health talks and interpersonal communication sessions.

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All departments, offices, and educational institutions under the DoE’s purview have been asked to actively participate in the initiative, ensuring a health-conscious start to the academic calendar.

This move underscores the growing role of schools as agents of public health advocacy, empowering students and communities with timely, actionable knowledge.

In a landmark step towards digital equity in education, the Telangana government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six leading non-profit organisations to provide state-of-the-art, technology-enabled learning completely free of cost to government schools across the State.

The MoU, formalised in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday is part of the State’s broader push to ensure inclusive, quality education for underprivileged students. “We are laying the foundation for a knowledge-based future. These partnerships reflect our commitment to ensuring no child is left behind in this digital age,” said the Chief Minister.

The collaborating organisations include EkStep Foundation (led by Nandan Nilekani), Prajwala Foundation (Sunita Krishnan), Physics Wallah (Alakh Pandey), Khan Academy, Pi Jam Foundation (Shoaib Dar), and Educate Girls (Safina Hussain). Each brings a unique offering to the table:

• EkStep will expand its AI-powered multilingual foundational learning platform from 540 to over 5,000 primary schools across all 33 districts.
• Physics Wallah will offer free NEET, JEE, and CLAT coaching to Intermediate-level students.
• Khan Academy will roll out curriculum-aligned STEM video content for Classes 6–10.
• Prajwala Foundation will introduce child safety and protection modules for Classes 6–12.
• Pi Jam Foundation will offer coding and computational thinking courses from Classes 1–10.
• Educate Girls, already active in the State, will continue efforts to boost girl-child enrolment and literacy.

Senior officials, including Government Advisor K. Kesava Rao, Education Secretary Yogita Rana, and School Education Director Narasimha Reddy, were present at the signing, underscoring the administration’s intent to drive systemic change through strategic public–NGO partnerships.

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In a significant follow-up to its earlier proposal, the Delhi government has officially cleared the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) Ordinance, 2025, intensifying its push for greater accountability in private school fee structures. This move comes just weeks after the government’s initial announcement, which ScooNews previously reported in detail here.

The ordinance, approved during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, introduces a first-of-its-kind three-tier regulatory mechanism in Delhi, comprising school-level fee regulation committees, district-level appellate bodies, and a state-level revision committee. The structure aims to address disputes, appeals, and grievances related to fee hikes more effectively and transparently.

With mounting pressure from parent groups over arbitrary fee increases and allegations of financial opacity, the government hopes this ordinance will bring much-needed relief to over 1,677 private schools operating in Delhi. According to officials, once it receives clearance from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, the ordinance will take immediate effect and remain in force until formal legislation is passed in the Delhi Assembly.

The ordinance also makes it illegal for schools to penalise students over fee non-payment by removing them from rolls, denying access to classes or online platforms, withholding exam results, or subjecting them to public humiliation—issues that parent associations have flagged repeatedly.

This policy intervention reflects the growing demand for systemic checks on private education providers and offers a model that other states may soon look to emulate as debates around school fee regulation continue to intensify nationwide.

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Primary school teachers in Himachal Pradesh have ended their 43-day-long hunger strike following a consensus reached with the state’s Education Minister, Rohit Thakur, on Saturday. The teachers had been protesting against the state cabinet’s March 28 decision to restructure the education system by merging the Directorate of Elementary Education with the Directorate of School Education.

Under the proposed restructuring, a new Directorate of School Education was to oversee education from pre-nursery to Class 12, while the Directorate of Higher Education would handle colleges. However, primary teachers raised concerns that this move would dilute their representation, affect service matters, and compromise promotional opportunities.

In the meeting, Minister Thakur assured the teachers that the existing directorate structures for primary and higher education would remain intact. Importantly, a committee will be formed to assess the restructuring, and no changes will be implemented without its recommendations. The committee will also include representatives from the Primary Teachers’ Association, ensuring that teachers have a direct voice in shaping future decisions.

Additionally, Thakur confirmed that promotions of primary teachers would not be hindered and that the government would reconsider the suspension of 10 teachers who were earlier penalised for participating in the protest.

Jagdish Sharma, President of the Primary Teachers’ Association, confirmed that the strike had officially ended and expressed optimism about a collaborative resolution.

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In a landmark move to scale artificial intelligence education across India, OpenAI has officially launched its first international educational initiative—OpenAI Academy India—in partnership with the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The initiative aims to equip a wide cross-section of learners with AI skills, from students and educators to civil servants, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders.

As part of the collaboration, OpenAI and the IndiaAI Mission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining shared goals under the “FutureSkills” pillar of the national AI strategy. The curriculum will initially be available in English and Hindi, with future plans to expand into regional languages to enhance accessibility and inclusivity.

The Academy will offer a hybrid model of digital and in-person learning, combining on-demand modules, webinars, expert-led workshops, and peer-based collaboration. The content will also be hosted on platforms such as the FutureSkills portal and the iGOT Karmayogi platform, enabling central and state government officials to upskill in emerging technologies.

One of the initiative’s most ambitious goals is to train one million teachers in the practical use of Generative AI tools in education. This is aligned with OpenAI’s broader mission to empower educators to integrate AI into classrooms meaningfully.

OpenAI will also host hackathons across seven Indian states, aiming to reach 25,000 students, and conduct workshops in six major cities. Winners of these hackathons will earn the chance to attend OpenAI Dev Day events abroad. In addition, 50 startups or fellows selected by the IndiaAI Mission will receive up to $100,000 in API credits to support their AI-based innovation projects.

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Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the initiative a significant leap forward in democratising access to cutting-edge technology. “This partnership makes the latest AI tools available to India’s startup ecosystem and government workforce alike,” he noted, adding that it will accelerate local innovation and adoption.

Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer of OpenAI, praised India’s growing influence in the global AI landscape. “India is one of the most dynamic countries for AI development. We’re proud to launch OpenAI Academy India to help more people gain confidence and skills to use AI meaningfully,” he said.

The platform will host a free Knowledge Hub offering a variety of resources—video tutorials, virtual events, hands-on training modules, and community forums—designed to make AI literacy engaging and practical.

With inputs from PTI

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Despite India’s near-universal school enrolment at the primary level, the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2024–25 paints a sobering picture of foundational learning and systemic leadership gaps in Indian education.

According to the report, over 95% of children in India are enrolled in primary school, yet basic learning outcomes remain dismal. ASER 2023 found that only 43% of Class 3 students could read a Class 2-level text, underscoring a national learning crisis.

While India boasts a 60% female workforce in elementary education, the leadership landscape tells a different story. Only 13% of vice-chancellors in central universities were women as of 2022, and formal principal training is absent in many Indian states despite NEP 2020’s mandate of 50 hours of annual professional development for school leaders.

This gender leadership gap reflects a global trend, with only 87 boys per 100 girls achieving minimum reading proficiency, and in middle-income nations like India, the number drops to 72 boys per 100 girls. The pandemic also reversed pre-COVID gains in gender parity for maths, with girls now underperforming in countries like Brazil, the UK, and Italy.

The GEM report also highlights bright spots. India’s policy commitment through NEP 2020 and innovative peer-mentorship pilots—like Delhi’s middle leadership model—demonstrate the potential of decentralised leadership to foster trust, collaboration, and improved school culture.

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Global evidence cited by UNESCO shows that female-led schools in parts of Africa resulted in one full additional year of learning gain, proving that gender-inclusive leadership can enhance academic performance.

However, implementation remains inconsistent. Many leadership positions in India still lack transparent selection and promotion processes, and states fall short in meeting training targets. The digital divide, especially post-pandemic, has further deepened inequities, hitting girls in under-resourced regions the hardest.

What India Needs Next:

• Institutionalise mandatory leadership certifications.

• Accelerate women’s inclusion in senior roles.

• Shift focus from enrolment to outcome-driven learning metrics.

• Embed leadership training into teacher education.

• Scale up local mentorship models proven to work.

The UNESCO report is a reminder that enrolment alone cannot guarantee education quality. Bridging the gap between policy intent and on-ground implementation is critical if India is to transform its education system into one that is equitable, inclusive, and future-ready.

At a time when Artificial Intelligence (AI) headlines dominate global discourse, a quieter but more consequential conversation is unfolding in India’s education sector—one that cuts through the hype to explore whether AI is genuinely improving learning outcomes or just riding a wave of fascination.

In its latest article titled “Not Just Hype: What Investors Really Think About AI in Indian Education”, Entrepreneur India reported on insights shared by Ganapathy Venugopal, Co-founder & CEO of Axilor Ventures, at the IGIS 2025 forum. Offering a candid investor’s lens, Venugopal remarked, “We’ve seen plenty of hype around AI. But for us, it’s about where the real value lies—can it solve something fundamental, like India’s teacher-student gap?” According to him, the most investable AI tools are not the flashiest but the most functional—those that support teachers, amplify their effectiveness, and reach where human resources fall short.

Echoing this, Kobi Gal from Ben-Gurion University pointed out that while AI has democratised access to learning, it hasn’t yet changed the core of how we learn. “The education system remains rigid. AI can increase reach, yes, but transformation is still elusive,” he said.

India’s edtech sector is poised for growth with its vast K–12 student base and rapidly expanding internet access. However, a major challenge remains—only 24% of households have internet, per NSSO data. This makes Tier II–IV cities a key battleground for AI-powered learning tools. Investors are now shifting focus from “edtech” as a label to learning outcomes, engagement, and job-readiness, with AI viewed as an enabler rather than a product category.

Venugopal pointedly questioned current trends: “Are we building tools to complete homework, or to change how we learn?” His statement taps into the broader tension—between consumer-friendly shortcuts and pedagogically sound, scalable solutions.

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At ScooNews Global Educators Fest (SGEF) 2023, this theme of AI with a conscience was also central. Held in Jaipur, the festival brought together educators, artists, and changemakers to discuss how artificial intelligence can serve—not replace—human values in education. Noted speakers like Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Rama Datt, and Padma Shri Anand Kumar reinforced the idea that technology must remain grounded in empathy, inclusivity, and purpose. A memorable moment was Anand Kumar’s speech on whether AI could ever truly replace a teacher’s role—a thought-provoking precursor to the investor sentiments voiced at IGIS 2025.

The conversation today is no longer about AI replacing the classroom, but enhancing it. With investor confidence growing in tools that support hybrid delivery models, regional customisation, and lifelong learning, the sector appears headed toward a more sustainable future.

Yet, Venugopal issued a final word of caution: “We look at sectors where demand is unquestionable and the cost of not solving the problem is high. Education in India fits that bill. But we must build with humility—and rigour.”

As India’s AI-powered education future unfolds, investors, educators, and innovators alike seem to agree: the goal is not disruption for disruption’s sake, but designing systems that serve learners in meaningful, measurable ways.

📌 Stay tuned for SGEF 2025 — This year, we gather under the theme: “Purpose-Driven Education: Designing for Future Realities.” Explore how we can reimagine school curricula to align with the evolving needs of our society and the professional world. Register here

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The Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, observed World No Tobacco Day on 31st May 2025 with a national workshop held at Rang Bhawan, Akashvani Bhawan. Inaugurated by Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, DoSEL, the event convened key stakeholders from the Ministries of Health, Home Affairs, NCERT, CBSE, UNODC, and State representatives, alongside students, civil society members, and domain experts.

During the workshop, Kumar launched the Nationwide School Challenge on Tobacco Awareness on the MyGov platform, set to begin on 10th June 2025. Aimed at student engagement, the initiative encourages schools across India to lead awareness campaigns. Participants also took the No-Tobacco Pledge, underscoring the shared responsibility of educators and communities in protecting students from tobacco exposure.

Kumar highlighted the alarming influence of tobacco advertising on youth and emphasised the importance of proactive involvement from School Management Committees (SMCs), parents, and local bodies to create tobacco-free campuses. Additional Secretary Anandrao V. Patil reinforced this message in his keynote, focusing on student health, well-being, and preventive education.

Other key speakers included CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh, who spoke on the integration of health and wellness modules in schools, and Economic Advisor A. Srija, who stressed inter-sectoral collaboration for effective implementation of Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) Guidelines.

Technical sessions covered mental health (Manodarpan), life skills education (Navchetna), the School Health Programme, and digital monitoring of ToFEI compliance. Experts from NCERT, CBSE, UNODC, and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare contributed insights on embedding wellness in school ecosystems.

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State nodal officers from Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry presented best practices—from dental health drives to creative student engagement tools like comics and animation. Efforts to contextualise ToFEI manuals in regional languages were also shared.

The workshop concluded with a call for consistent monitoring, awareness campaigns, and holistic health education to build tobacco-free, safe learning environments.

A recent report by The Indian Express reveals a worrisome shift in India’s school enrolment patterns—more students are opting for private institutions, even in states with a robust network of government schools. During meetings held by the Ministry of Education with state officials in March–April 2025 to discuss projects under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, the Centre flagged this as a “disturbing trend.”

In states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand, the enrolment in unaided private schools has consistently risen despite government schools forming the majority in number. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, 73% of schools are government-run, yet they account for just 46% of total student enrolment. Similarly, Telangana’s government schools form 70% of total schools but educate only 38% of students, compared to nearly 61% in private schools.

This trend isn’t isolated. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and several northeastern states have also reported declining numbers in government school enrolment. The Union Ministry has urged states to reverse this decline, citing the need for introspection and reform. In Tamil Nadu, for example, government schools make up 64% of the total but serve just 37% of the student population.

Interestingly, some states have responded by conducting Aadhaar-based “data cleansing” to explain the drops. Still, the Centre believes deeper, systemic issues—such as rising aspirations and perceptions of quality—are driving families towards private schooling.

The concern goes beyond statistics. According to UDISE+ 2023–24 data, 36% of total school enrolment in India (over 9 crore students) is now in private schools. In 2022–23, it was 33%. Pre-pandemic figures already indicated this steady rise.

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Where Do Government Schools Go From Here?

The falling trust in government schools paints a grim picture—especially when education budgets face cuts and systemic reform remains slow. However, all is not lost. States like Madhya Pradesh are setting examples through initiatives like the CM Rise Schools, which aim to rejuvenate public education with upgraded infrastructure, teacher training, and modern pedagogy.

But such success stories remain scattered. Without strong policy backing, increased funding, and public support, the future of government schooling appears uncertain. In an era of aggressive privatisation—be it formal schooling or the booming coaching industry—government schools risk being sidelined unless urgently revitalised.

Why must they survive? Because they remain the only accessible option for millions, especially in rural and marginalised communities. They are not just institutions—they’re vehicles of social equity, offering a shot at mobility to those who may otherwise be left behind.