HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar during Idea Exchange. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Mehra) HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar during Idea Exchange. (Source: Express Photo by Amit Mehra)

New HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar Thursday said that India lacks in innovation in education as children are discouraged from asking questions in schools — something which should not be allowed to continue.

“Innovation is a process of rebellion essentially. Unless you rebel, unless you challenge the status quo, how can you innovate anything,” he said at an event organised by the Ananda Bazar Patrika Group.

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“Why do we lack innovation in India? Because, we don’t allow questioning. We don’t promote inquisitiveness. If a child asks questions in school, he is asked to sit down. This should not go on. We need to promote inquisitiveness, children should ask questions,” he said.

Javadekar said if children are encouraged to be inquisitive, innovation would follow as the status quo would be challenged and there would be transformation.

Earlier in the day, Javadekar took charge as HRD Minister in the presence of his two junior ministers, Upendra Kushwaha and Mahendra Singh Pandey.

His predecessor Smriti Irani, who was expected to be present at the time of him taking charge, skipped the event, citing “family reasons”. Javadekar, who met Irani on Wednesday, had described her as his “little sister” and said that he would carry on with the “good initiatives” taken by her in the HRD Ministry.

Javadekar also held a meeting of officers immediately after joining, during which he is learnt to have laid stress on expediting appointments across educational institutions.

(With inputs from PTI)

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