Telangana Rising 2047 – Youth development to be a key focus of vision

A key focus of the Telangana Rising Vision document will be youth development with the State envisioning to equip every young person with right blend of skills, technology, knowledge and soft skills, a senior official said on Thursday.

Strong job prospects, entrepreneurial opportunities and global mobility, for the youth, are sought to be created with this approach, Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan told a two-day FICCI conference on reimagining education for an AI-driven world that got underway here on Thursday.

The State government is preparing its Vision 2047 and will release the Telangana Rising Vision Document on December 9, said Mr.Ranjan, who is Special CS Special Projects and Investment Cell and to the Department of Youth Advancement, Tourism, Culture and Sports.

On concerns that AI may dilute the purpose of education, he said the impact would vary across stakeholders. Students will gain significantly, yet a divide may widen: urban, affluent, English-speaking families with access to devices and the internet will benefit more, while socio-economically weaker parents may find their children further disadvantaged. The digital divide and the mindset of “technology is not for me” are concerns. The solution lies in using technology to solve real problems and showcasing the successes. When people see tangible benefits, acceptance grows, confidence rises, and technology phobia fades, FICCI said in a release on his address.

Chairman of National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) and National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Anil Sahasrabuddhe underscored on how curriculum relevance is critical. It has remained unchanged for long, though the pace of reform is accelerating and rightly so, because outdated learning leads to unemployable graduates. Even in revising curriculum, AI can offer valuable inputs, but final judgment must rest with humans.

Telangana Council of Higher Education Chairman V. Balakista Reddy said after consultations with stakeholders in Telangana, it is clear updating the curriculum is the most urgent reform. Telangana is already aligning nearly 20% of its syllabus with emerging technologies.