The Union government is set to overhaul senior school education by introducing skill-based learning into the Class 11 and 12 curriculum, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced on September 22.

The move aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates a paradigm shift in teaching methodology at every stage of learning.

Speaking at the Dakshinapatha Summit 2025 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Pradhan emphasized the need to move beyond a certificate- and degree-focused system. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly said we need degrees and certifications, but we also need to make students truly competent,” he said.

Highlighting the NEP 2020 mandate, Pradhan said, “One of the primary recommendations of the policy is skill-based education. We are actively working to integrate this into Class 11 and 12 curriculum.”

The minister added that the initiative is not limited to senior school. “Earlier, skill-based learning was optional and selective.

Going forward, skill education will become a formal subject, starting from Class 6 onwards,” Pradhan said, underlining the government’s commitment to nurturing practical competencies alongside academic achievement.