New National Education Policy may be delayed for fourth time

NEW DELHI: THE EXISTING NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY WAS FRAMED IN 1986...LATER REVISED IN 1992. THE BJP, IN ITS MANIFESTO, HAD SAID A NEW POLICY WOULD BE ANNOUNCED

The much-awaited National Education Policy (NEP) is likely to be delayed for the fourth time since it was first announced, with the government-appointed committee entrusted with the task of drafting the policy getting yet another extension till October 2018, officialssaid.

Headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief K Kasturirangan, the panel was set up by the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry in June 2017. It was supposed to submit its report by December 2017 but was given an extension till March 2018. Later, it was given another extension till August, which has now been extended by another two months.

“The report has been given a final shape, but it was felt that greater consultation was required with the states and education ministers. So, a two months’ extension has been granted. The basic work is complete but the committee is now going to hold consultations with various stakeholders, especially experts, and therefore it sought another extension,” said a senior HRD official.

The policy has in the past served as a comprehensive guide to develop the education sector in India. The existing National Education Policy was framed in 1986 and later revised in 1992. The BJP, in its 2014 manifesto, said a new policy would be announced.

Apart from Kasturirangan, the committee has eight members that includes mathematician Manjul Bhargava.

According to persons familiar with the matter, the suggestions that are likely to be made may not be implemented this academic year, as schools have already started their session in April and colleges in June-July. “A number of policy decisions have already been taken. So, in effect, it will come into effect by the next academic year,” the HRD official added.

Work on the policy was first initiated by the then HRD minister, Smriti Irani, who had constituted a committee headed by former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian to prepare the draft. The committee submitted the draft in May 2016. However, that report was termed as an input document, and a new committee headed by Kasturirangan was formed by HRD minister Prakash Javadekar.