Summary
Ashok Agrawal, a member of the court of Delhi University, said the government was not serious about implementing the key provisions of the NEP
The Centre is dragging its feet on implementing its National Education Policy (NEP), going by the dismal progress so far in bringing changes to two laws.
The NEP has proposed to change the 10+2 structure, which excludes a two-year nursery stage, to a 5+3+3+4 (five-year foundation stage, three-year primary stage, three-year middle school stage and four-year secondary stage) formula. The foundation level is to include a three-year Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) stage from age 3 under the school education system. So far, ECCE has been provided by the anganwadi centres, which are covered under the Integrated Child Development Service scheme. For the new education structure, the existing Right To Education (RTE) Act is required to be amended.
Also, the NEP has proposed to set up a Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) as a single regulator subsuming the existing University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teachers Education (NCTE). The government has to bring a bill for this.
The progress on both fronts has been tardy.
The ministry of education in April 2021 released an action plan for the implementation of the NEP, named Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement Through Quality Education (SARTHAQ).
The ministry in October 2021 set up a 19-member committee under the chairpersonship of Annpurna Devi, minister of state for education, to review the provisions of the RTE Act and suggest changes. The committee was given a year to submit the report. The panel is yet to do so. The Telegraph filed an RTI application in December 2023 seeking a copy of the report, if submitted, and the progress on the plan.
“The matter related to the TASK 295 of SARTHAQ for the implementation of NEP 2020 is under finalisation/ examination. The details may be shared once the report is finalised,” said a reply dated December 29, 2023.
An official said the committee had set up three sub-committees, which have not submitted their reports. “The (19-member) committee has been set up at the level of MoS. She remains occupied mostly. The committee is unable to meet regularly,” the official said.
Ashok Agrawal, a member of the court of Delhi University, said the government was not serious about implementing the key provisions of the NEP. The RTE is required to be amended to extend free education to all uptill Class XII.
“The government is implementing minor aspects. The NEP talks about providing universal access to quality education for all up to Class XII. The present RTE Act provides for free education up to Class VIII. Children belonging to the economically weaker sections are getting free education in private schools as the government is bearing the cost at a lower rate. After Class VIII, the private schools do not provide free education. The government is required to amend the RTE Act to make free education up to Class XII a legal guarantee,” Agrawal said.
The government is also yet to finalise the HECI bill. The vice-chancellor of a central university said the bill was expected to be finalised and introduced in the winter session. Now, it is unlikely to come even in the budget session. “The fate of the HECI bill will be decided by the next government,” said the VC.
The bill is expected to give clarity on funding for innovative areas like the promotion of a multi-disciplinary approach and an additional year’s study at the undergraduate level.
Last updated on 14 Jan 2024
