National Education Policy evokes praise, brickbats in Telangana, Andhra

Hyderabad: Experts in Telangana have flagged the New Education Policy (NEP) calling it an assault on the autonomy of the state education department.

Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) unveiled New Education Policy on Wednesday. The policy aims to overhaul the education system and pave way for new reforms in the school and higher education sector.

Education was part of the State List under the Seventh Schedule of Indian Constitution until 1976. Under the Indira Gandhi regime, it was shifted to the Concurrent List through the 42nd constitutional amendment. Matters in the Concurrent List come under a shared purview of the central and state governments.

However, National Education Policy 2020 has taken a centralized approach and suggested a single regulatory body for higher education.

"The shared purview will now be controlled solely by the central government. State governments will have a little role or no role. Their larger goal now would be to implement the policy," said Professor G Haragopal, head, All India Forum for Right to Education.

Professor Haragopal said the policy is based on a sharp political agenda of the leading party in the central government and is going to upset the federal structure of education.

“National Education Policy 2020 takes a cue from an American model of education, and pushes towards reforms that can facilitate foreign capital with ease. The new school structure of 5+3+3+4 is taken from the United States of America, and works towards creating a market for foreign capital," he said.

Senior officials at the Telangana State Council of Higher Education echoed a similar concern. They said from an initial understanding the state governments’ have been rendered mere rubber stamps.

On the other side, Andhra Pradesh government has welcomed NEP 2020. Senior officials said the Centre has incorporated their recommendations in the new policy.

"We want education to be accessible, affordable, and equitable. The NEP 2020 affirms all this," said Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh.

On the issue of using regional language as a mode of learning, he said the matter is sub judice. “I won't comment. However, most of the parents we spoke to, were in favor of teaching in the regional language," he said.