Page 58 - 1 to 18 August 2020

Imphal Times Supplementary issue Page No. 2
National Education Policy (NEP)-2020: A critical Review (Part 1)

By Surjit S. Thokchom* consultation. amongst the new committee the latest version. activities as of today, are looked as zone but it doesn’t refer to the
The first committee under the members compelled him to The present policy not only same. The only difference is who existing criteria like SC/ST/OBC,
As I write this, I know that some of chairmanship of late Dr TSR restructure and reformulate the draft centralized the existing decentralized pockets the profit. Within this minorities etc.
you have already praised NEP-2020 Subramanian was formed by policy. Post draft NEP 2019, structures but it centralized the perspective, commodification of There are 3 areas of rationalization
as a revolutionary document. And October end of 2015 and whatever suggestions to the same draft (484 standalone central bodies also. It is knowledge for a not-for-profit proposed in NEP 2020 in the name
some of you have already rejected the consultations claimed was done pages) were invited upto mid- an advanced form of centralization. activity become necessary. There is of school complex, multi-
it as a regressive and anti-people before the first committee was august 2019. This was later The obvious and immediate hardly any distinguishable disciplinary universities and
document. And still some are formed. Initially the committee was summarized and came out as 55- consequence of this advanced difference between commercial and efficient governance.
reluctant to make a position. Some mandated to draft NEP as per pages summary as final and titled, centralization is defederalization of non-commercial (not-for-profit) Rationalization (school complex) in
still opine that it cannot be entirely notification on 31 st Oct 2020 but by “NEP-Final 2019”, uploaded in Indian polity and absence of activities as of today under the the school level means closure of
correct or entirely wrong and 24 th November 2015, the mandate MHRD website in October 2019. meaningful autonomy and flexibility. above-mentioned Ministries. In NEP large number of schools.
argue that there must be good was reduced to a “Committee for The Ministry’s website and the Words like ‘flexibility’, ‘autonomy’, 2020, quality is to be maintained Rationalization (Multi-disciplinary
elements and bad elements. But Evolution of New Education Policy content in the NEP-Final 2019 did ‘decentralization’, ‘accountability’, through a system of quality control University) in the higher education
there is an emerging amnesia of (NEP)” by an official notification. not reveal whether suggestions and ‘rationalization’, ‘creativity’ are mechanism wherein education is means closure of large number of
saying against anything proposed After this change, the committee inputs given by the people were bound to have very limited meaning treated as a product. Will quality be small colleges. Rationalization for
by the present dispensation. was no more mandated to draft NEP. incorporated or not. This was and will defy both the common and measured in terms of its potential efficient governance means merger
Majority of people particularly the The Committee submitted 230 followed by another draft version academic understanding of these for social transformation or in terms or abolitions of existing state and
middle class prefer to remain pages Report titled, “National Policy of 60 pages, uploaded in Jan 2020. terms. of returns as a remuneration to the the central autonomous bodies and
within the comfort zone of being on Education 2016- Report of the It was assumed by all of us that NEP One of the main agenda is to worker and profit to the corporate? disabled the state Education
silent or a blind supporter. My Committee for Evolution of the New 2020 version uploaded in January promote Privatization as an enabling The present document is a- department for any educational
analysis of NEP 2020 is based on Education Policy, dated 30 th April 2020 was approved by the Cabinet condition for commercialization. historical. If we refer to several endeavor.
my dispassionate reading of the 2016”. But for some reason best on 29 th July 2020. But the The agenda of the public institution previous policies along with several NEP 2020 creates a dichotomy
latest version of NEP 2020(66 known to the Ministry, it was never government surprised us by now is no more to serve the interest High Court and Supreme Court between Constitution & Emerging
pages) which was uploaded in the uploaded for public viewing. Later, uploading another latest version on of the masses but to make the rulings including Allahabad High Developmental Imperative as per
MHRD’s website on 30 th July 2020. it was leaked through social media 30 th July 2020 with several key government resources available to Court order of 2015 asking to ensure SDG4(Sustainable Development
I assumed that this was the unofficially. MHRD claimed that changes. Many of the comments the private institutions with no that public servants and bureaucrats Goal 4) agenda. While it says to
document approved by the Cabinet. there were inter-departmental and and feedbacks on Cabinet Approval compulsion of the latter to to send their children and wards to promote Ethical and Constitutional
As I study it, in the back of my mind, inter-ministerial wide consultations of NEP 2020 from 29 th July evening reciprocate the same. In a situation state-run-schools, along with well values, it also keeps a wedge
I still doubt that there may be during 2016-2017 on NEP (with no till 30 th July evening till the latest like this, the private institution is in documented people’s movements between the Constitution and
alteration in the Cabinet approved official committee for NEP document was uploaded were a position of advantage over the till date, including several ethical values. Developmental
document as this document is not a drafting!!!). During June to August partially discredited. Overall government institution. In the educational experiments in both pre imperative is no more inspired by
signed document. The present 2016, the MHRD brought out a observation is that the Govt’s meantime, an attempt has been and post independent period, the the Constitution but it is guided by
document is the 6 th version of NEP- paper titled, “Some Inputs for Draft disclosure through Ministry’s made to create an impression that present NEP 2020 disconnects itself emerging Developmental (SDG4)
2020 during 2015-2020. The sixty National Education Policy 2016” website reveals the non- NEP 2020 is committed to regulate from all previous experiences. There agenda. The emerging
pages NEP-2020(draft) document and the same was tabled in Rajya transparency. the private institutions against is no continuity in the spirit of the developmental agenda in tune with
which was the 5 th version, uploaded Sabha for a short discussion under The present NEP 2020 as approved commercialization of education. Two policy though it mentions NPE 68 SDG4 and of becoming a super
in January 2020 was the most rule 176. It was also claimed that by the Cabinet is incomplete. It key terms- ‘not-for-profit’, ‘public and NPE 86, RTE Act 2009, Disable power, knowledge society,
studied document and present NEP- there were dialogues on Education misses several necessary spirited private philanthropist’ are Act 2016 etc. knowledge economy and one out
2020-final under review by me is with Honorable MPs though no definitions without which one used as a means to fight against the The document does not mention of the three largest economy in the
the latest version, uploaded on 30 th details of the discussion are cannot give an informed opinion. It commercialization. In other words, Reservation at all. It does not world: Are these not agenda at the
July 2020 with some key changes available in public domain as of does not define the structure of the it is the Ministries of Finance, mention ST/SC/OBC/minorities in cost of the pending unfulfilled
both addition and deletion. today. new institutions created by the new Corporate Affairs, Labour & context of the provision to be Constitutional agenda of equity,
Let us first be acquainted with the There was a long gap and then policy. It also removes the Employment that will define what provided additionally. In place of equality and social justice? Is
NEP-2020 before we go into a another committee was formed description of the structure and non-commercialization does mean. ST/SC/OBC and minorities, socially development without fulfilling the
detailed study of the document. The under chairmanship of Dr. some names of the structure as it The enabling condition for economical disadvantageous Constitutional mandate a
wide consultation as it is claimed Kasturirangan. This newly formed was mentioned in the previous draft commercialization is privatization groups (SEDG) is used in NEP 2020. development at all? Are we setting
by the MHRD was inter- Committee came out with 484 pages version. One of them was the which the Education Ministry (as it Terms like merit-based scholarship, our priorities in the right
departmental consultations prior to draft NEP 2019 by the end of 2018 replacement of RSA (Rastriya is now named) is committed to do it merit-based promotion, merit-based perspectives? Do we repeat the
the formation of the committee to and it was uploaded in MHRD’s Shiksha Aayog) as it was mentioned under NEP-2020. The emerging career progression, merit-based past? Do we fail to transcend the
draft Evolution of NEP in 2015 website in June 2019. This report in earlier draft by “remodeled and theme called Social appointment etc. are frequently colonial paradigm of development?
during January 2015 to October clearly said that the draft submitted rejuvenated CABE” in the latest 66- Entrepreneurship is basically to mentioned. The existing scholarship Anyway, whose India is what NEP
2015, and no details is available nor by the early committee and the input page NEP 2020. 2 nd significant generate profit and use the profit based on ethnicity or minorities do 2020 are dreaming for?
any public notice seeking people’s collected during 2015 was addition is the Online Education as for a public cause. Both commercial not have a place in NEP-2020. NEP-
input during the stated period of inadequate. And the consultations the central agenda of NEP 2020 in activities and not-for-profit 2020 talks about special education (to be continued)
*Surjit S Thokchom is based in Shillong at present. He is a Secretariat Member of All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE) and Editorial Board Member of a monthly publication of AIFRTE titled,
“Reconstructing Education”. He has been associating with an education project in rural khasi hills titled, “Demonstrating an Alternative Vision of Education”. He was a member of Institute Advisory Board of
North East Regional Institute of Education (NERIE), Shillong, a Constituent of NCERT and he was a member of Position Paper of Work and Education, NCERT. He was also official translator of National
Curricular Framework, 2005(NCF 2005) into Manipuri. He can be reached through ssthochom@gmail.coms
Poetry Section Remembering the forgotten Heroes:
Happy Independence Day!
To my goddess of love India had sailed through from Kerela since 2009, claims that Bose, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Dr.
innumerable struggles in its quest Britain is responsible for the death Rajendara Prasad, Bhagat Singh
for freedom. of 35 million Indians. In addition, and all who had once fought that
By: Shongminthang Haokip From the days of Mangal Pandey the British aggressive policies we could enjoy our freedom today.
to the days of Mahatma Gandhi, must have made many of our Let us once again take a pledge:
India has had many heroes who countrymen victims of the most that we, the people of India, have
May be meeting you was by chance valiantly laid down their lives for intolerable forms of violence and solemnly resolved to constitute
But seeing you was heavenly planned the great cause of the country. The crimes. India into a sovereign, socialist,
It is clearly understandable from
lands that we call our own today
secular, democratic, republic, and
Meek and shy like a messenger pigeon By - Janghaolun Haokip were once traded with the blood of these brief recollections that our to secure to all its citizens justice –
But fly as high as a wild eagles thousands who sacrificed their country had sailed through the social, economic and political;
Beyond a thousand miles across Heroes made it possible. Heroes lives. The freedom that we enjoy, impenetrable in its struggle for liberty of thought –expression,
belief, faith and worship;
bought us freedom. They bought
and all that our country offers us
independence, and therefore it is
Over the sky you come and go us the right to govern ourselves today were all paid with the lives extremely unfortunate today that equality of status and of
Like a mystic evening fancy clouds and the right to proudly call of our brave forefathers. We we are to only celebrate the opportunity; and to promote
persons and not their personalities.
among them all fraternity, assuring
cannot forget that even in the
ourselves a sovereign nation free
You disappeared too soon today from all kinds of external powers. Jallianwalla Bagh massacre alone Today, we are celebrating their the dignity of the individual and
But when another day comes As India celebrates its 74 th year of 379 people were killed and over sacrifices, while we dampen their the unity and integrity of the
1,200 other people were injured
dreams and aspirations. We
nation.
Independence today, it is extremely
You’ll reappeared till then I just hope unfortunate that it has over the when British Indian Army fired their worship their images while we As we celebrate our 74 th
More memories awaits to be created years slowly forgotten its heroes rifles into unarmed Indian Civilians. mock their principles and ethics. Independence day, let us all be
We pay tribute to their souls while
These great heroes have fought
reminded of our forgotten heroes.
Remember! Unexplored places seemingly who had given their lives for this and laid down their lives with a we disrespect their visions. We Let us all be reminded of their
land and country. It is unfortunate
Even more enchanting to explore one day. that we have decided to slowly dream. They struggle and fight so glorify their sacrifices while we values, their ethics and principles
erase the valour of the great that we have freedom, and so that defile their morale. We are loyal to clearly laid down in the
battles from our history books. In we do not suffer like them. They the country while we are traitors to constitution, because the
No more tears of sorrows in your eyes fact, we as a country have come to fought because they know that its people. What an irony and what constitution alone is our religion
It’ll be seen and cherished in my heart downplay the once glorious they do not want the same life that a lie to stand up for the country as a Nation. Let us worship and
adore it so that we, as a nation,
and work towards its downfall.
sacrifices of our founding fathers,
they lived for us. These great heroes
If you can’t hold back I’ll wipe dry for you the pioneers of this great nation. fought for our future. They have Let us remember our Heroes today. irrespective of what caste, creed,
But only if you allowed me. Rightly termed as the first war of dreamt of a free and prosperous Let us remember Mahatma Gandhi, or race we belong to, can and will
Independence, the Indian Revolt of India, a country that will be the father of our Nation. Let us enjoy the true sense of freedom
1857 was the first major event that inclusive and will be liveable for all. remember his principles of and we that we live everyday with
called and awakened the people of It would be impossible to count “ahimsa” and stop all forms of the true essence of independence.
Letters, Feedback and Suggestions to ‘Imphal Times’ India towards the idea of freedom. how much Indians have given their unnecessary violence against Let everyone take pride in being
can be sent to our e-mail : imphaltimes@gmail.com. For advertisement Since then, for over almost a lives for the cause of freedom. ourselves with a narrow divide. Let an Indian, not just the Hindus and
kindy contact: - 0385-3590330 (O). For time being readers can reach the century until India was finally freed Shashi Tharoor, an acclaimed us also remember Jawaharlal the majority, as we pay tribute to
office at Cell Phone No. 9862860745 for any purpose. from the British Colonial power, author and parliamentary member Nehru, Dr. B R Ambedkar, S.C. the Heroes of our great nation.