A government committee proposed holding a unique entrance test for entry into the industry while emphasizing the need of having media and entertainment studios/labs in schools.
New Delhi, India: A government-appointed task committee tasked with strengthening India's gaming, animation, and content sectors has recommended that NCERT create a curriculum centered on teaching animation in schools, while universities launch courses like bachelor's degrees in Graphic Design and Experiential Art.
The report of the task force for the promotion of Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC), which includes officials from the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Education, and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, as well as industry experts, was issued on Monday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the committee while presenting the 2022 Budget.
According to the research, AVGC has matured into a key development engine of the media and entertainment sector as well as the Indian economy, with enormous future growth potential.
“India’s AVGC sector had an overall market size of $2.3 billion in 2019, which was about 0.7 percent of the global market size. The sector is expected to grow 2.2 times over the next four years driven by market forces and constitute about 1.5 percent of the global AVGC market,” the report read.
In order to boost the industry in India, the task force has generated ideas across five categories including – ‘Market Access and Development’, ‘Skilling and Mentorships’, ‘Education’, ‘Increasing Access to Technology IP and Creating Financial Viability’ and ‘Promoting high-quality Content’.
The committee recommended that the I&B ministry collaborate closely with the Ministry of Education in developing a comprehensive framework for AVGC education in India.
“The framework should consider teaching methodologies, core areas of teaching, new subjects, mode of examination for creative fields, etc. to ensure the complete representation of the stakeholders in the AVGC ecosystem,” the report sketched out.
It also recommended the Media & Entertainment Creative Aptitude Test (MECAT) or equivalent tests to help with admittance to the AVCG sector. These tests will assess the “creativity, aptitude and readiness of a candidate seeking admission in programs running in the media & entertainment sector.”
The committee also recommended “uniform nomenclature for degrees”. Bachelor/PG in Experiential Arts (Gaming, XR, etc.), Bachelor in Graphic Arts (Comics and Animation Design), and Bachelor in Cinematic Arts (Comics/Animation/VFX) are among the suggested degrees.
It also advised that NCERT establish appropriate courses for children in school, including animation in games, in order to expand the industry to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
The report pointed out that, “The schools should be encouraged to establish a media and entertainment studio/ labs, in addition to computer labs, within their premises to give students exposure to the industry”.
“The students at school level should be given exposure to subjects that help them sharpen their creative skills. The skills to be taught at the primary school level from KG to Grade 5, may include the following: observation skills, understanding moving images, understanding visual language, color theory, intro to art & design, intro to performing arts, music awareness, introduction to creative thinking,” it highlighted.
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