The National Education Policy 2020 is the "Nagpur Education Policy" and the Congress party will oppose it in the upcoming legislature session, said KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar, adding that the BJP government was trying to impose the policy without any consultation or debate.
"Education is in the concurrent list. Yet, the Centre has brought the policy in a hurry sans any consulatation with the state governments. We will not allow the implementation of the policy unless it is widely debated in the Parliament, state assembly, council and will insist on a house panel to collect people's opinion," said Shivakumar, adding that it was difficult to decipher the policy as there was no clarity.
Alleging that the goverment decision to implement the policy was "unilateral", Shivakumar stated that it has caused panic among the parents, students and the teachers. "The three-language policy is part of Hindi imposition on non-Hindi speaking states. None of the BJP-ruled states like UP, MP or Gujarat are implementing the policy, just like Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the fear of backlash from the people. The policy allows a student to pursue three different subjects in graduation course. It also lays emphasis on online education but do the rural areas have infrastructure or network connectivity? It is a pro-urban policy," he said.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, in his letter to Karnataka higher education minister Dr Ashwathnarayan, urged for the policy to be withdrawn in the state. "The higher education minister has sought an appointment with the opposition leaders to discuss the policy after the government has officially launched the policy from the current academic year," he wrote.
"A change in policy in matters like education and health is not a small issue and calls for deliberations initiated democratically before the policy is drafted, as it has wide implications. The government of India is trying to wash hands off its responsibilities in health and education sector," alleged Siddaramaiah.
Stating that the government should work on better student-to-teacher ratio and enhance the budget for education, Siddaramaiah said" The NEP also recommends increase in allocation to education to six per cent of the GDP. It translates to Rs 1.08 lakh crore in Karnataka. The Centre had to discuss the issues in detail as there are apprehensions that the policy violates the federal dystem and infringes upon the autonomy of states over education and universities. It is feared to promote privatisation leading to inequality and social injustice. I am afraid the intention is to indoctrinate students with the idea of communalism through education. NEP is unscientific and will push lakhs of students into darkness."
