State Education Policy Commission, under Prof Sukhadeo Thorat's leadership, has been tasked with drafting the state education policy.
Published Oct 12, 2023 | 7:00 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2023 | 7:00 PM
Representational Image (South First)
The Congress-led Karnataka government has taken a decisive step towards crafting its own educational framework by constituting a committee of experts tasked with framing the Karnataka State Education Policy.
This initiative aims to replace the existing National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and is set to be led by former chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor Sukhadeo Thorat, an esteemed educationist, economist, professor, and writer.
On Wednesday, 11 October, the state government issued a government order (GO) establishing a 15-member committee, complemented by a group of eight subject experts/advisors.
The State Education Policy Commission, under Prof Thorat’s leadership, has been tasked with drafting the state education policy. It is expected to submit its comprehensive report by 28 February, 2024.
Exuding confidence about the new commission, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted in a post on X, “The state’s new education policy will serve as a model for the country.”
Meanwhile, the BJP, which is yet to appoint the Leader of Opposition for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council, continues to condemn the Siddaramaiah-led government’s decision to do away with the NEP 2020.
It must be noted that, in 2021, under the governance of the BJP, Karnataka became the first state to implement the NEP.
Two months after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that his government would withdraw the NEP from the next academic year, the Congress government constituted the 15-member committee to frame the State Education Policy.
While the BJP implemented the NEP when it was in power in 2021, the Congress was deathly against it. It had made a promise, prior to the state Assembly elections, that it would scrap the NEP.
In his post on X, Siddaramaiah said, “A committee has been established, under the chairmanship of Prof. Sukhdev Thorat, to prepare the draft of the Karnataka State Education Policy. I am confident that this committee will provide suitable recommendations for nurturing scientific temperament, intellectual growth, and necessary education for the holistic development of students.”
A committee has been established, under the chairmanship of Prof. Sukhdev Thorat, to prepare the draft of the Karnataka State Education Policy.
I am confident that this committee will provide suitable recommendations for nurturing scientific temperament, intellectual growth, and… pic.twitter.com/hfF6Rymnoz
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 11, 2023
Ever since Siddaramaiah announced that it would scrap NEP from the next academic year, BJP leaders have been criticising the ruling party.
Reacting to Siddaramaiah’s most recent announcement, BJP’s former minister and MLA Dr CN Ashwath Narayan took to X to say, “The politically motivated anti-student attitude of the Congress government, which has decided to implement the state education policy by abolishing #NEP2020 which is conducive to the future of students, is condemnable. I request Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to withdraw this decision immediately and convene an all-party meeting to discuss the continuation of the new NEP in the state.”
ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಭವಿಷ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಪೂರಕವಾಗಿರುವ #NEP2020 ರದ್ದುಗೊಳಿಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ನೀತಿ ಜಾರಿಗೆ ತರಲು ನಿರ್ಧರಿಸಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಪ್ರೇರಿತ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಧೋರಣೆ ಖಂಡನೀಯ.
ಕೂಡಲೇ ಈ ನಿರ್ಧಾರವನ್ನು ಹಿಂಪಡೆಯಬೇಕು ಹಾಗೂ ಸರ್ವಪಕ್ಷ ಸಭೆ ಕರೆದು, ನೂತನ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣ ನೀತಿಯನ್ನು ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸುವ… pic.twitter.com/iqB5TkUjPr
— Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan (ಮೋದಿ ಅವರ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@drashwathcn) October 12, 2023
While speaking at South First’s Dakshin Dialogues 2023 on 7 October, Narayan had said, “This is the third National Education Policy. The first NEP was in 1968 and the second policy came in 1986. This policy is not something new. In our country, can we have a different Constitution for different states? We have one Constitution.”
He added, “The new education policy framework has been drafted after 34 years. It is not about which state is good or bad. It is a framework to improvise the national regulatory bodies. We need to align and cannot work in isolation, since it is a globalised world.”
He pointed out, “There is a big divide between rural and urban, and private and government. The socio-economic weaker sections need to be addressed strongly. This policy is not in the state list. It is in the concurrent list.”
“Once the UGC comes out with regulation, there is no other way. Everyone has to fall in line. We need to align; we cannot go separately,” Narayan added.
The commission has been tasked with a comprehensive assessment of the state’s school and higher education systems. The primary objectives include formulating policies to boost school and higher education enrollment, expanding educational reach while ensuring enhanced quality, and fostering equal access for all to high-quality education.
The preamble emphasises the commission’s commitment to effectively achieve key educational goals, encompassing the imparting of scientific knowledge, instilling democratic values, providing skill and professional education to elevate employability, and delivering moral education to cultivate exemplary citizenship among students.
The members of the commission include Prof S Japhet, Founding Director of the UGC-sponsored Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEEIP); Dr Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice-Chancellor of National Law School of India University (NLSIU); Dr Sharath Ananthamurthy, Professor, School of Physics, University of Hyderabad; A Narayana, Professor with the School of Policy and Governance, Azim Premji University; Dr Vinaya Okkunda, Associate Professor, Uttar Kannada’s Government First Grade College; among others.
Dr Bhagyavana S Mudigoudra, Special Officer, Department of Higher Education, will act as the member secretary to the Commission and will coordinate and maintain the proceedings of the meeting.
This initiative underscores Karnataka’s commitment to advancing educational outcomes and societal well-being through a holistic and inclusive approach.
Apart from the 15-member commission, the state government has also appointed eight members identified as subject experts or advisors to provide expert advice while drafting the State Education Policy.
Some of the subject experts are:
The Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) and Karnataka State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), Bengaluru, will provide all administrative/secretariat assistance, and logistic support to the commission.
“The suggestions received by the Department of School Education and Literacy and Department of Higher Education will be handed over to the commission. The commission shall hold consultation with all different stakeholders,” the GO read.
It further stated, “The commission will examine various suggestions and inputs that emerge during consultations for formulating the draft State Education Policy of Karnataka.”
“The commission may co-opt experts as invitees, members during the discussions, whenever it is required. The commission shall submit its report by 28 February 2024,” said the GO.
(With PTI inputs)
