Government faces uphill task on new education policy

After facing stiff resistance from the Opposition and various state governments on the implementation of land acquisition laws, the government is set to face an uphill task while formulating its new education policy.

While full-scale consultations on formulation of the new education policy are likely to be launched in February, the Union human resources development ministry is expected to face tremendous pressure to accommodate the agenda being pushed by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) which is in turn being opposed by several political parties, including the Congress, Left and Trinamul Congress.

Sources said that several states like West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Karnataka, ruled by parties opposed to BJP’s agenda, are likely to disagree with several proposals being mooted by the HRD ministry. The non-BJP governments in these states are expected to oppose any attempt by the Narendra Modi government towards saffronisation of education in the country. The forthcoming meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education (the highest advisory body on education in the country) is expected to witness high-voltage drama as several state governments are expected to oppose several RSS-backed policy changes.

While the national level consultation is expected soon, the RSS has already held a meeting with HRD minister Smriti Irani where they had pushed for introduction of moral education, correcting the distorted history being taught in educational institutions and giving proper representation to forgotten idols of the country from the pre and post independence era. The Sangh affiliates, including its ideologues like Dina Nath Batra, have also shown their opposition to the entry of foreign universities in the country and termed it as a direct attack on Indian culture.

Interestingly, the NDA government headed by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had also faced allegations of saffronisation of education and faced stiff resistance from Opposition-ruled states.