Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday underscored India’s historical eminence as the epicentre of knowledge and education, asserting that the country is firmly on its way to regain its past glory.
Addressing the 62nd Foundation Day of the School of Open Learning, University of Delhi, the vice president emphasised the illustrious legacy of institutions like Nalanda and Takshashila, highlighting the paradigm shift and resurgence in India’s educational landscape in contemporary times.
Stressing the pivotal role of the New Education Policy (NEP) Vice-President Dhankhar stated that NEP heralds a transformative change, charting a roadmap for holistic learner development and creating a knowledgeable society equipped for the 21st century challenges.
He underscored the emphasis of NEP on flexible learning pathways, technology integration, recognizing diverse needs and aspirations and lauded institutions like the School of Open Learning in expanding access to quality education as envisioned by NEP.
Applauding SOL for providing a transformative platform for diverse range of learners, VP Dhankhar said that SOL has opened doors for those previously handicapped by circumstances, enabling them to pursue education without disrupting their routine.
Underlining education as the most impactful transformational mechanism for change, Dhankhar asserted that education is not merely a means to acquire knowledge; rather, the cornerstone of progress, empowerment, and social transformation. He said that education is the only mean to do away with inequalities in society.
He also urged students to consider failure as a key to success and underscored the need for a resilient mindset in navigating the complexities of the modern world. He cited the example of India’s moon mission, Chandrayaan.
“If there was no Chandrayaan-2, there would be no Chandrayaan-3. Chandrayaan-2 was not completely successful, but it was successful to a large extent. Every student should remember that failure is not the name of anything. You can see the key to success in failure!”