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Impact of Entrepreneurial Curriculum Initiated in Government Schools of India

What is the Entrepreneurial Curriculum Program?

The Delhi government launched the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum Framework in the year 2019. The initiative is meant for all Delhi government schools, from class IX to XII, as part of awareness building and learning the different aspects of entrepreneurship. The program aims to solve the unemployment crisis in the country. It would also make Delhi a world-class education hub. According to the Education Minister of Delhi, this is a moment when the Delhi govt has set an example for everyone.

The Program was launched by Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia, Source: Indian Express

The idea of entrepreneurship is not new. It has been there since a long time, in the form of basic education. Right after Macaulay’s minute, India has battled to uplift its educational standards. From the Kothari Commission to Education Policies of 1968, 1986 and thereafter, the focus has been on good education. Prior to independence, freedom fighters like Gandhi and Dadabhai Naoroji, have raised the demand for basic education. Universities like Delhi University, Banaras University, and others have spoken about the need for pragmatic education. Learning by doing was the benchmark.

Keeping these ideals in mind, the current Education Minister, Mr. Manish Sisodia, felt the necessity of introducing an entrepreneurial curriculum. He takes his inspiration from developed countries like Finland. His concern is that there are approximately 12 million students entering the job market every year. If all of them become job seekers, the system may collapse. Instead of becoming job seekers, these students can become job givers. Many thinkers agree that students do need extra help to become entrepreneurs. It is due to these reasons that the EMC program has been introduced in the curriculum. 

How Does The Program Work?

Source: Education Times

The program was initiated by the Delhi govt in July 2019, as part of a pilot effort to develop an entrepreneurial mindset among young children. It aims to instill an innovative mindset among students which will help them take their ideas to a new level. Certain vital details were planned accordingly.

Children from the 9th to 12th standard shall be spending 40 minutes of their day, picking up skills like confidence, problem solving and understanding how businesses really work. The program booklets have been devised by a core team, comprising of people working in education and NGOs. There are activities of all kinds, where a child plans and responds creatively according to given situations. Students will get to know about the stories of successful entrepreneurs.

The teachers are not focused on bringing in their mindset, or giving their opinions. It’s the child who will think and react, participating in the follow-up activities. The classes summarize the activities. It’s been proven by the ensuing data, that children today are becoming more independent and confident. The various case studies, mindfulness activities and a top-up of happiness classes have brought a positive impact on the character traits of students. 

What Does The Budget Look Like?

To make the program practical, Mr. Sisodia has also announced that the Delhi govt shall grant a seed money of RS 1000 to students of class XI and XII, and RS 5000 to college students. The total budget amounts to a hefty 40 to 50 crore. 

The Burning Questions

Source: Medium

The entrepreneurial mindset curriculum was created by educator and software analyst Tarak Goradia and Prithvi Reddy, a Bangalore based entrepreneur. The program is making a powerful impact already. It is not about teaching hardcore business skills like accounting but aims to teach the finer points of entrepreneurship. The curriculum was developed around three burning question:

  1. Where will jobs come from if there are no job creators?
  2. What is our system planning for unemployment?
  3. Researchers feel that it’s time we bring in work related experiences into education. How can we do this?

The program was launched, keeping in mind these three key questions. 

Impact of the Program

The Entrepreneurial Curriculum Program has changed the public perception of government schools in Delhi, Source: Education Mirror

Over 18 thosand teachers have been turned into entrepreneurship teachers. The impact has already been felt. By early 2020, many success stories have become known to us. Now, parents desire to send their wards into govt schools. The academic result of the 2019-20 session too has shown an extraordinary leap.

The goal is to enable students to achieve their maximum potential. The four components of the Entrepreneurial Curriculum are: entrepreneurial mindset classes, micro research, field projects and entrepreneurship interactions. These have remarkably changed the education scene in Delhi. 

Confidence, creativity, curiosity, self-awareness, empathy, and joy are the new building blocks. The EMC currently covers 22 skills through its various components. The entire program will be a great success if it is able to keep the focus on its primary objectives. All the stakeholders involved have to believe in the utility of EMC to make it a success. 

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