HRD, states discuss draft education policy

NEW DELHI: The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) and state education ministers held detailed discussions on Saturday about the various reforms proposed for the draft National Education Policy.

Among key policies discussed during the meet were expanding the scope of mid-day-meal facility in schools to include breakfast and introducing a measure to control the arbitrary increase in fees in government schools.

According to a government official familiar with the developments, the meeting, chaired by Union minister for human resources Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, was also attended by Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Prahlad Singh Patel, along with 19 state ministers and three deputy chief ministers.

“There was a wide ranging discussion on various issued related to education. Some suggested that the mid day meal scheme be increased to involve breakfast while others suggested that a policy to impose curbs on arbitrary increase in fees by private schools,” said the official.

The official added that Rijiju said the ‘Fit India Movement’ should become a national goal. Patel highlighted the importance of imparting knowledge and culture to the new generation.

The HRD minister also released the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2018-19. The survey revealed that the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education had increased from 25.8 in 2017-18 to 26.3 in 2018-19. The number of faculty increased from 13.88 lakhs to 14.16 lakhs.