New Delhi: Funding issues could pose major obstacles in the implementation of the new national policy on education. The state education ministers, who recently attended the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) meet here, said that while the draft policy was good in its intent, it lacked a financial plan of action for implementation, news agency PTI on Sunday quoted them as saying.
WHO SAID WHAT
Odisha Higher Education Minister Arun Kumar Sahoo:
“More funds are required for implementation of the policy in the states, thus the need for a proper financial plan.” He also suggested alumni funding through a ‘Give back to roots programme’.
Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Das:
“More funds are required and a proper allocation is necessary to implement the policy. Some of the initiatives like pre-primary education and about anganwadi workers are good but it is not possible for states to go alone and Centre should provide funds for the same.”
Bihar Education Minister K N Prasad Verma:
“Finance is very important for implementing this policy and the draft policy has not spoken much about the financial plan of action for its implementation. The extension of Right to Education (RTE) Act will further burden states in terms of funds and the Centre should bear the brunt.”
Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia:
“The policy is a wishful draft and has no mention of how it will be implemented and what needs to be done in the run-up to the implementation. The Indian education system is highly regulated but poorly funded”.
Minister of State for School Education in Mizoram Lal Chanda Ralte:
“Limited resources are available with the state and interest of every stakeholder must be ensured in the NEP”.
Andhra Pradesh’s Education Minister Audimulapu Suresh and Madhya Pradesh’s Education Minister Prabhuram Chaudhury also demanded more funds from the Centre for policy implementation, PTI said in its report.
Key recommendations of the draft policy:
- Right to Education Act should be extended to all children between 3 and 6 years of age.
- 100 per cent gross enrolment ratio from pre-school to secondary levels by 2030.
- Integrated flexible school curriculum.
- No separation between academic and vocational education.
- New 5+3+3+4 developmentally appropriate curriculum and pedagogical structure for school education.
- National Research Foundation to promote research and innovation.
- Professional education should be an integral part of higher education.
- Flexible curriculum in the higher education sector, creative combination of study and multiple exit points.
- Broad-based liberal arts undergraduate education.
