'Education is priority of priorities for my government': Prez

President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said the government lays special emphasis on education, adding that 'Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat' has been launched to improve the foundational learning outcomes.

"Education is the priority of priorities for my government. 'Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat' has been launched to improve foundational learning outcomes. An initiative to map the entire country on a GIS platform to identify habitations without schools has been taken," said President Mukherjee in his address to both houses of Parliament ahead of the Budget Session.

"Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Teacher Training has been launched to empower and increase the capacity of teachers. The Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan has been announced to imbibe scientific temper among students. To ensure access to education in the remotest areas, Ishan Vikas and Ishan Uday schemes have been started with focus on students of North-Eastern regions," he added.

President Mukherjee also said the government has formulated National Sports Talent Search Scheme for encouraging sporting talent among the children in the age group of 8 to 12 through National Sports Development Fund and Target Olympic Podium.

"India has the largest population of youth in the world. Majority of her population is already in the working age group. To tap this demographic dividend and to bridge the demand-supply gap in skilled workforce, my Government has created a new Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with the theme 'Hunar hai to Kalyan hai'," said President Mukherjee.

"A new "National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship" is on the anvil to align skilling initiatives with global standards. Focus will be on the youth from deprived households in rural areas. Public-Private Partnership is being fostered to create skill development models and channelize CSR funds into skilling activities," he added.

The Budget Session, which contains 44 items of financial, legislative and non-legislative business, began today with President Mukherjee's address.

The first part of the Budget Session will continue till March 20 while the second part will commence after a month-long break from April 20 and conclude on May 8.

The Rail Budget will be presented on February 26, Economic Survey on February 27 and General Budget on February 28.