In a significant announcement, Shyama Rath, the Member-Secretary of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), revealed ambitious plans to roll out an impressive five lakh (500,000) Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) nationwide over the next decade. This initiative is set to transform the landscape of science and technology education across India.
During a national seminar held at Siddhartha Educational Academy in Tirupati, focused on ‘Five years of NEP 2020: Realising the vision of transformative technical education,’ Ms. Rath highlighted the progress already made. She noted that 10,000 ATLs have successfully been established to date, cultivating an early interest in science and technology among school-aged children.
Further bolstering this vision, the Atal Training Scheme has already empowered 500,000 technical teachers across India with advanced educational techniques. The ongoing commitment is to ensure every educator possesses the essential skills to guide students in the evolving technological world.
Ms. Rath emphasized that these efforts align seamlessly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aspiration for a developed India by 2047 and are deeply rooted in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The technical education curriculum nationwide is undergoing significant reforms, incorporating teacher training, internships, practical project work, state-of-the-art laboratories, and a strong push for indigenous research.
She urged teachers and educational institutions to actively promote the numerous scholarships available through AICTE for students pursuing technical education. Ms. Rath expressed confidence in India’s future, stating that the nation will soon boast a vast pool of highly skilled young talent, given that 250 million students are currently in primary and upper primary education, and 50 million are engaged in higher education.
Adding to the discussion, Guntha Laxman, National Joint Organizing Secretary of ABRSM, outlined the transformative innovations in technical education over the past decade. He encouraged all stakeholders to leverage advanced tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT to enhance productivity and remain competitive in today’s fast-paced world.
The seminar saw participation from prominent figures including ABRSM State President Y.V. Rami Reddy, Technical Education Wing’s State Vice-President N. Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary Muppa Laxman Rao, and Siddhartha Engineering College Secretary Y. Anand Reddy, alongside approximately 300 faculty members from various engineering colleges throughout the state.