RSS calls shots on education policy

The Modi government’s proposed new education policy has accommodated all the major suggestions made by the Rashtriya Swayamasewak Sangh and its affiliates. The T.S.R. Subramanian committee, entrusted with preparing a draft for the new education policy, has accepted Sangh Parivar members’ suggestions on several key issues like the introduction of value education in schools, giving preference for teaching in mother tongues, the reversal of the no-detention policy, the promotion of Sanskrit as a living language instead of a classical one and the introduction of yoga across the educational spectrum.

As one of its key demands, Sangh affiliates had pressed for the introduction of moral and value education in schools as they felt it could improve the students’ outlook towards the nation and society. Their demand for greater involvement of regional languages has also been acceeded to by the committee.

Over several rounds of meetings with the HRD ministry, during the consultation process for the new education policy, Sangh affiliates also expressed their displeasure with the no-detention policy and called for its immediate termination. This demand too has been accepted by the Subramanian committee which has proposed an amendment to the no-detention policy in schools till class VIII, making it applicable only till Class V with examinations to be held from Class VI onwards.

It is understood that saffron outfits’ affinity for Sanskrit and yoga will also receive support from the government as the committee has called for the promotion of these across the educational spectrum.

Ever since the submission of these suggestions to the HRD ministry, the NDA government has come under criticism from several quarters over the saffronisation of education.

Sources said that RSS affiliates had made submissions to the government regarding the new education policy. It is understood that these suggestion to the new education policy were made by the Sangh Parivaar in an effort to provide a new direction to the education sector of the country.

The 200-page report, submitted to the government in May, has given specific suggestions to raise the standard of education, which was found wanting in many respects from the primary level to the highest level.

Former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra, former Delhi home secretary Sevaram Sharma, former Gujarat chief secretary Sudhir Mankad and former director of National Council of Education Research and Training J.S. Rajput are the other members of the committee that prepared the draft national education policy. The task for preparing a new education policy has been undertaken after a gap of almost three decades.

Sangh Parivar suggestions on education Introduction of value education in schools Giving preference for teaching in mother tongue Reversal of no detention policy Promotion of Sanskrit Introduction of Yoga across the educational spectrum