Education Scholars Challenge NEP 2020, Unveil Alternative Framework for Equitable Learning
Distinguished academic voices have raised significant concerns about the implementation and direction of India's National Education Policy 2020, highlighting what they perceive as critical shortcomings in addressing systemic inequalities within the higher education landscape. The critique emerged during a significant gathering organized by the All India Save Education Committee at Bangalore's Ramaiah Institute of Technology, where scholars presented a comprehensive alternative vision for India's educational future.
Addressing Stark Disparities in Educational Access
Professor Sukhdeo Thorat, former chairman of the University Grants Commission, delivered a pointed assessment of NEP 2020's limitations during the inaugural session of the People's Parliament. The event, themed "Towards People's Policy on Education 2026 - An Alternative to NEP 2020," provided a platform for critical examination of current educational reforms.
"Current data reveal stark disparities across income and social groups that remain inadequately addressed by existing policy frameworks," Professor Thorat emphasized. He identified the growing dominance of private institutions as a particularly troubling trend that could exacerbate existing inequalities rather than alleviate them.
Concerns Over Curriculum Changes and Centralization
The discussion extended beyond access issues to encompass fundamental concerns about educational content and governance structures. Professor Thorat expressed particular apprehension about curriculum modifications under the "Indian Knowledge System" initiative, warning that "increased emphasis on religious texts could potentially undermine secular and scientific education principles, potentially creating conflicts with constitutional provisions."
Former Information & Broadcasting Secretary Jawahar Sircar raised additional alarms regarding proposed legislative changes, specifically the Vikasit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill 2025 expected after the Budget Session. He cautioned that this legislation would centralize educational control by merging three key regulatory bodies—the University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, and National Council for Teacher Education—under a single 12-member authority overseeing funding, curriculum development, and research priorities.
Proposed Alternative: People's Policy on Education 2026
In response to these identified challenges, the All India Save Education Committee formally released the People's Policy on Education 2026, presenting it as a comprehensive alternative to NEP 2020. According to Professor Tarunkanti Naskar, general secretary of the All India Secondary Education Council and former professor at Jadavpur University, "The People's Parliament represents a decisive step in challenging NEP 2020 while advocating for an inclusive, secular, and equitable education framework that charts a comprehensive roadmap for India's educational future."
Core Principles of the Alternative Policy Framework
The proposed People's Education Policy 2026 establishes several foundational principles grounded in secular, democratic, scientific, and universal education values:
- Government Responsibility: The policy asserts that primary responsibility for providing education, including financial obligations, must rest with government authorities. Accordingly, both central and state governments must allocate adequate budgetary resources to support educational initiatives.
- Eliminating Commercialization and Discrimination: The framework calls for complete cessation of commercialization, communalization, and all forms of discrimination within educational systems. It advocates for implementation of a two-language policy incorporating mother tongue and English instruction nationwide.
- Universal Education Rights: Regardless of social status or economic background, the policy guarantees universal education access and equity as fundamental rights for all citizens.
Calls for Academic Mobilization and Legal Scrutiny
Participants at the gathering emphasized the need for coordinated academic response to perceived policy shortcomings. Jawahar Sircar urged scholars and educators to engage parliamentarians, pursue legal examination of proposed legislation, advocate for Standing Committee reviews, and unite across institutional boundaries in what he described as a "one for all, all for one" effort to safeguard academic autonomy and democratic educational values.
The event marked a significant moment in India's ongoing educational policy discourse, bringing together veteran academics, former administrators, and educational advocates to articulate an alternative vision that prioritizes equity, secularism, and universal access in contrast to what they perceive as the limitations of current policy directions.
