Sixteen student organisations on Tuesday came together to form an alliance to oppose the National Education Policy (NEP) and campaign against the BJP in educational institutions.

The new front United Students of India (USI) includes the Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI) and all Left-supported organisations.

DMK’s students’ wing secretary C.V.M.P. Ezhiarasan said the alliance would hold a march to Parliament in Delhi on January 12 to oppose the Union government’s policies on education marked by fee hikes in public institutions, funds cut and promotion of saffronisation.

The new front has adopted a slogan, “Save Education, Reject NEP, Save India, Reject BJP”.

“We have decided to conduct campaigns across the country, hold a joint Parliament march in the national capital on January 12 and a student rally in Chennai on February 1,” Ezhiarasan said.

He said the NEP was promoting privatisation and centralisation of entrance tests. He demanded a new law to ensure education and employment for all.

Dipsita Dhar, a student leader, said the public-funded institutions are increasing their fees, thereby denying access to education for the poor. She cited the example of Pondicherry University which has increased the semester fees of MBA course from Rs 7,000 in 2020 to Rs 25,000 now.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, a guest faculty at a college under Delhi University, said that the NEP was pushing for skill and vocational education under the name of Skill Enhancement Course and it takes away the focus on traditional academic subjects.