UNESCO launches the 2024 State of the Education Report for India on Culture and Arts Education

UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia has launched the sixth edition of its annual flagship report, “Rhythms of Learning”, the 2024 State of the Education Report for India, focusing on Culture and Arts Education.

This year’s report explores the significant role that culture and arts education plays in fostering creativity, promoting inclusive and equitable education, strengthening social cohesion, and advancing sustainable development. In a country like India, where culture and arts are deeply embedded in its heritage, integrating these elements into the education system is crucial for holistic and inclusive learning.

“This report is the first study of the adaptation of UNESCO’s Framework for Culture and Arts Education to a national context, providing a tailor-made approach that reflects the specific cultural and educational needs of India. This report will contribute to further promoting the role of culture and arts education in India by providing insightful information and practices for all. Culture and arts education is a transformative tool for fostering creativity, critical thinking and empathy – essential skills for addressing the complex challenges of today’s world,” said Tim Curtis Director and Representative, UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia

The report, authored by the Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design & Technology, uses a mixed-methods approach, combining secondary data analysis, policy reviews, research literature, interviews, and an online survey. It highlights exemplary case studies and initiatives from various regions of India, showcasing successful practices and innovative strategies in culture and arts education.

“The Department of School Education and Literacy and UNESCO have a shared mission of promoting India’s rich cultural diversity. I am, therefore, happy to know that the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia has brought out the sixth edition of the State of the Education Report for India on the theme of ‘Culture and Arts Education’. I hope this report will further inspire educational initiatives that harness the power of culture and arts,” said Shri Sanjay Kumar Secretary Department of School Education & Literacy, in his video address

The report aligns with UNESCO’s Framework for Culture and Arts Education, adopted earlier this year at the Abu Dhabi World Conference, and provides a roadmap to strengthen access, equity, and institutionalization of arts education ecosystems across India. These goals align with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2023, both of which promote innovative strategies like Art-Integrated Learning (AIL) and emphasize the importance of preserving traditional and local knowledge.

The report concludes with ten concrete recommendations for education sector stakeholders, aimed at enhancing the role of culture and arts education in India. 

These recommendations include: 

• Create a culture and arts education steering committee to promote culture and arts education; 
• Enhance rural-urban connectivity through culture and arts education; strengthen teaching capacity in culture and arts education; 
• Promote culture and arts education for comprehensive lifelong learning; 
• Employ technology to enhance accessibility of culture and arts education; 
• Establish centres of excellence in culture and arts education; 
• Launch new undergraduate programmes in culture and arts education; 
• Establish a national culture and arts educational repository; 
• Create an effective assessment system for quality implementation of culture and arts pedagogy; 
• Establish a culture and arts education fund.

The launch event also featured a live instrumental musical performance curated by the Naadvistaar Foundation, underscoring the report’s central theme of integrating arts and education to inspire creativity, cultural pride, and shared humanity.

To illustrate the report in an accessible manner, the following audio-visual package is also available free of copyright on UNESCO New Delhi’s YouTube channel: 

1. Summary video underlining the recommendations of the report
2. Short capsules highlighting the key recommendations of the report