Wolf in Granny’s Clothing- Dangerous Design of NEP 2019

After a span of more than 5 years, a National Education Policy has finally been presented to the public. The last date of giving feed-back to the NEP is 31^st July, 2019.

True to the nature of the regime under which the NEP has been proposed, the draft NEP is full with flowery words, but empty in commitment. It is only a document for decimation of accessible public funded education for the benefit of private enterprises and global education mafia.

Let’s start with quoting the philosophy behind the document as mentioned in its own preamble.

As vision for the education system in India the NEP 2019 states

We have proposed the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education, while remaining consistent with India’s traditions and value systems.

As we read the entire document and connect the dots it becomes clear that in reality the revamping of all aspects of the existing education system is aimed at making smooth ways to privatization and invitation of global education mafia to sell education in India. The ‘aspirational goal of 21^st Century’ is meant to be a push towards insecured and undignified future for India’s youth. The section on Higher education states categorically that ‘Higher education must aim to prepare its students not just for their first jobs- but also for their second, third and al future jobs over their lifetime.’ This clearly states the intention of the document- revamping the existing education system and converting India’s youth in cheap labour who will be forced to abide by the hire and fire norm in a contractulaised job market.

NEP 2019- A Further Step in Dismantling Government School System:

Present Indian schooling system introduces the children of our country to the world of discrimination and inequality since the very beginning of their lives. The systematic destruction of infrastructure in government funded school and a free hand to private schools to flourish are the key reasons of inequality in schooling.

Instead of addressing the existing inequality in schooling system, the NEP has proposed a design of closing down government funded schools in the name of optimization of resources. The document gives free hand to private schools to flourish and fetch money in the name of providing education.

Discrimination, Inequality and Push Out from Early Childhood- the Dangerous Design for School Education in the NEP 2019

• School Complex- the Code Name for Closing Down Thousands of Government Schools: Since the first tenure of the Modi government thousands of schools have been closed down all over the country in the name of merger. The NITI Ayog document on Education as well this year’s Economic Survey argues in favour of closing down government schools. The same policy perspective has been upheld in the NEP 2019. The NEP 2019 uses making School Complexes for optimal utilization of resources as the excuse to close down schools. The document tries to absolve the government of the responsibility to build up quality infrastructure so that drop outs from government schools are restricted; it rather gives the easy solution of closing down the schools themselves.
• Free Hand to Private Schools: On the other hand, the NEP 2019 recommends time and again private and ‘philanthrophic’ engagement in school education. It mentions that the private schools are free to determine their fees. The draft also proposes to free the private schools from the responsibility of taking 25% students from economically weaker section.
• Dilution of Provisions of Right to Education Act: The NEP 2019 time and again tries to undermine the provision of the Right to Education Act, 2009 that recognized right to education as Fundamental Right of every Indian children.

In the name of making school complexes, the NEP calls for reducing the number of teachers as a ratio to number of students.

• Open and Distance Learning Instead of Regular Schooling for Children of Migrant Workers: The only time children of migrant workers are mentioned in the policy it is in the context of providing them distance and open learning. The children of the most marginalized in the society who needs intense care in class room teaching the most, are being prescribed distance learning.

 Pushing India’s Youth Out of Accessible and Quality Higher Education-

Closing Down Public Funded Colleges in the Name of Large Universities: The NEP identifies the number of colleges and universities in the country as a problem. No, not with an intention to increase the number. Instead it considers the present number as fragmentation. In a country where drop out rate speedily increases from school to higher education, where the percentage of students in the age group of 18-23 who reach higher education is merely 24.5%, the education Policy considers the existing number of colleges and universities as too much. In the name of building large multidisciplinary universities the policy gives a road map to close down government funded colleges and universities.

Most atrociously, the document uses reference to Nalanda and Taksashila to justify its ill-intentioned logic of closing down colleges to build up large universities.

• Invitation for Foreign Universities: While Indian Universities that are accessible of thousands of students in sub-urban areas will be closed down, the NEP invites foreign universities to open campus in India. The policy even talks of making laws for inviting foreign universities.
• A Policy to Promote and Fund Private Universities: The NEP 2019 is not only a clear call for private enterprises to expand their business in Higher Education, it also promises government help for private universities.

Firstly, the policy promises lesser regulation for opening new Higher Educational Institute. We all remember how Nita and Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Institute was given Institute of eminence status even before it was opened.

The NEP suggests that private universities can take fund from the newly proposed National Research Foundation. They will acces public fund without any commitment of inclusion and implementation of reservation.

• Type I, Type II and Type III Universities and Mission Nalanda- New Name for Graded Autonomy and Self-financing: Only last year the students and teachers across the country rose up in protest when the MHRD declared graded autonomy for universities. The formula of graded autonomy is to impose self-financing courses on universities that will cause massive fee-hike in the new courses. The NEP brings back the formula of graded autonomy in a new language and formula. It proposes to build up TypeI, TypeII and Type III universities. Type I universities will be the first ones to be granted financial autonomy or self-financing.
• Decimating Social Justice: The promotion of private and foreign universities at the cost of public funded higher education would also mean a decimation of representation of the marginalized communities in education. The NEP 2019 does not commit to implement reservation for SC/ST/OBCs in private institutions. The policy also is silent on representation of SC/ST/OBC/Minorities or women from the apex body like RSA or other regulatory bodies.
• The Rashtriya Siksha Ayog- Centralisation for Fascist Take Over of Education: The NEP 2019 proposes to dismantle UGC and separate regulatory functioning from grant giving function. And the different bodies that will be created for regulation, accreditation and grant will be supremely controlled by the Rashtriya Siksha Ayog. The Prime Minister himself will chair the RSA. The draft also proposes formation of Rajya Siksha Ayog for states that will be in coordination with the Rashtriya Siksha Ayog.

The PM who has been bypassing his own cabinet ministries to take decisions of supreme importance to facilitate certain corporations, now wants to control the education system after dismantling the powers of an institution like UGC that could regulate as well as make an overall assessment of standard, infrastructure and grants for universities.

The Colour of the NEP 2019 is saffron and its content and intent is making way for profiteering of private and global capital. By repeated mention of Ancient India the draft represents the same fake nationalism, while producing a design for decimation of accessible and quality education for India’s future. The NEP also repeatedly mentions the role of philanthropic organisations in India’s education. We know how the RSS has been paving way in our educational curriculum and structure since the BJP has come to power. In the name of philanthropy, the draft aims to justify the politically motivated entrance of regressive organisations like the RSS in our education system.

The NEP 2019 is a betrayal to what India’s education needs today. Here we present a contrast of what our education need and what the NEP 2019 proposes

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