Every year on November 11, National Education Day commemorates the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister after independence.
In India, November 11 is designated as National Education Day. Here’s everything you need to know about this day, from its history to its significance to its theme.
What is the significance of National Education Day?
Every year on November 11, India commemorates National Education Day, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first education minister after independence.
Abul Kalam Ghulam Muhiyuddin Ahmed bin Khairuddin Al-Hussaini Azad, born on November 18, 1888, was an Indian independence activist, writer, and senior leader of the Indian National Congress. After India gained independence, he became the country’s first Minister of Education. He was the education minister from August 15, 1947 to February 2, 1958, and died on February 22, 1958, in Delhi.
The importance of National Education Day
The day is observed to commemorate Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s contributions to education during his tenure as Education Minister. In 1920, he was elected to the foundation committee for Jamia Millia Islamia in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. In 1934, he also assisted in the relocation of the university’s campus from Aligarh to New Delhi. The main gate on campus is now named after him.
Azad’s main focus in post-independence India as the first Indian education minister was educating the rural poor and girls. He also prioritized adult literacy, universal primary education for all children up to the age of 14, and the diversification of secondary education and vocational training.
“We must never forget that it is every individual’s birthright to receive at least the basic education without which he cannot fully discharge his duties as a citizen,” he said on January 16, 1948, at an All India Education Conference.
He also oversaw the establishment of the University of Delhi’s Department of Education, the first Indian Institute of Technology in 1951, and the University Grants Commission in 1953.
How should National Education Day be observed?
Students from all over the country can hold discussions, debates, and themed programs about Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s teachings and achievements. They can also have cultural programs commemorating Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s birth anniversary or his life achievements.
Furthermore, schools can hold discussions or seminars to address current problems and issues in the Indian education system. Through these discussions, experts and shareholders can identify problems in the system and propose potential solutions.
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