TFP Bureau, Raipur, August 29, 2025: NITI Aayog on Friday held a national consultation workshop in Raipur on “Fostering Mentorship in Education: A Pathway to Equity,” bringing together experts, policymakers and educators to discuss strategies for reducing student dropouts and promoting skill-based learning under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Mentorship as a foundation for empowerment
Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, addressing the workshop as special guest, said mentorship is the strongest foundation of social justice and equal opportunity in education. He emphasized that India’s demographic dividend can only be realized if youth are linked with education, skills and the economy.
“Chhattisgarh’s average age is just 24 years, compared to India’s 28 years. This is our greatest strength. We must connect youth with opportunities so they can build a developed India,” Choudhary said.
Sharing his own journey of studying in rural schools with limited facilities, the minister underlined the importance of career guidance. “Even after 17 years of education, many youth remain unsure about their path. Mentorship can bridge this gap,” he noted. He also called for education rooted in local culture and languages, echoing NEP 2020’s emphasis on regional dialects.
Call for universal mentorship
NITI Aayog Member Dr. V.K. Paul highlighted the urgent need for a mentorship framework, pointing out dropout concerns. While primary school enrollment stands at 93 percent, only 56 percent reach secondary level and just 23 percent complete Class 12. “From 2019 to 2023, 15,000 OBC, SC and ST students dropped out, along with more than 4,000 from IITs and IIMs. This is a national loss,” he said.
Dr. Paul added that mentorship offers students personal guidance, confidence and life skills. “Every child deserves the right to mentorship. It is a human right, and NEP 2020 shows us the way forward,” he said, stressing that technology must be used to ensure wider access.
Senior officials participate
The workshop saw participation from senior officials including Planning Secretary Ankit Anand, NITI Aayog Joint Secretary K.S. Regimon, Fellow Dr. I.V. Subba Rao, NCTE Chairman Prof. Pankaj Arora and Deputy Secretary Arvind Kumar.
