Foundational Literacy Stressed For Future Workforce At SOA Webinar In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: To develop a workforce to meet the future requirement, steps should be taken to ensure foundational literacy and numeracy, said Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) in Bhubaneswar.

He as speaking at a webinar on ‘Future of Work’ conducted by SOA on Monday to celebrate India’s G20 Presidency and as part of the Education Working Group (EWG) in Odisha.

“Technology has revolutionised the concept of work today with people sitting in one corner of the planet being able to take up assignments for others located in another corner of the world. We need technology, we need scientists, we need disciplined people to work on issues and the workspace must be multifunctional in nature,” Prof Nanda said.

Foundational literacy and numeracy must be ensured especially in the context of blended learning, and make tech-enabled learning more inclusive, qualitative and collaborative at every level, he said and stressed the need to build capacities and promote life-long learning in the context of the subject ‘Future of Work’.

Prof Nachieketa K. Sharma, SOA’s Director, International Relations and University Outreach Programme, spoke about different ‘Jan Bhagidari’ programmes being taken up in all districts of Odisha to highlight India’s G20 Presidency. SOA had been entrusted with the responsibility of taking up these programs in three districts of Balangir, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar during April, he added.

Prof Sharma said the need was to structure the country’s educational system in such a way that it would promote rationale thinking comprising both analysis and synthesis. “We have more book focused students now which has to change as the need is for people who know what to do when the need arises,” he said.

He also opined that the National Education Policy 2020 contained all these possibilities. Prof Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare) and Nodal Officer for EWG at SOA introduced the theme.