Punjab Educationists’ Forum organises seminar on NDA’s new education policy draft

Ludhiana, August 24, 2019: Punjab Educationists’ Forum organised a seminar on “NDA’s New Education Policy” draft in Punjabi Bhawan Ludhiana today. The keynote speaker of the seminar was Principal Tarsem Bahia who discussed in detail the proposed draft of new education policy of National Democratic Alliance and tried to find out its merits and demerits. He criticised the policy as it tends to dismantle already existing educational apex institutes like UGC, creation of Higher Education Council headed by PM and inclusion of 50% ministers in it, its policy of disaffiliation of colleges from universities, creation of autonomous colleges, reducing the number of colleges in India etc. The number of colleges will decreased almost 70% from 40000 to 10000-15000. Its policy to monitoring of private educational institution is not clear. It seems that under new education policy these private institutions may flourish by charging hefty fees from students. He emphatically criticised the new policy on the basis of its language policy and declared it as full of saffronization. New Education policy ignored the already existed education policy which had the sound foundation of secularism, humanism and scientific temperament. He pointed out that in new draft there is no mentioning of good scales for teachers as salary rather it mentioned only honorarium. . The positive aspects of the policy to declare end of adhocism by saying there ‘no temporary teacher will be allowed’, stress free examination system, multiple exit and entry point will be offered in higher education, raising of GER (general enrolment ratio) in HE by 50% up to 2030 etc. Dr Kuldip Singh expressed that there are certain major stake holders in education such as Union Government, State Governments, Minorities, society as a whole and importantly academia. No education policy could be framed without the due consultation of all the stake holders. The Constitution of India provides certain Fundamental Rights (Art15-17, 25-30) and certain directive principles (Art 330-339 and 350) for the benefits of minorities. Art 30 says the rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions. Since education is in concurrent list Union government cannot overlook the States entirely and other stake holders. Minorities are also to be heard before the finalization of draft of new education policy especially on language issues. The participants around 100 were from college/ school principals/teachers, academicians, members of senate and Syndicates etc. The prominent personalities who were present and participated in discussion were forum president Principal Tarsem Bahia, Principal Narinder KaurSandhu, Principal Inderjit Kaur (Fellow and Syndic PU), Dr. Surjit Singh (General Secretary Punjabi Sahit Academy), Dr Guriqbal Singh, Prof Bhathal (President Punjabi Sahit Academy), Pr. Manjinder kaur, Dr Jasminder Dhillon, Dr. PS Gill, Dr Sukhpal Singh PAU, Dr Sukhdev Singh PAU, Pr Kirandip kaur, Pr Sandip Kataria, Pr Balwant Singh, Mr Ravinder Joshi, Prof. PK Sharma, Pr Manjit Singh Komal, Pr Gurcharan Singh etc. The forum strongly desired to fulfil the commitments of NDA in its manifesto to spend 6% of GDP on education which is all-time lowest to 2.7 presently. The forum apprehended about the funding of education in a federal country where states have little resources. The success of such policies depends upon the funding of Union Government. The past practises proved the union govt share is decreasing and states sharing are increasing day by day. The forum also apprehended about the gap between declarations of NDA govt and its real practices like accreditation of Reliance University as institute of academic excellence and providing grants of 1000 crores which university is not established yet. The forum took a serious note of the developments held in Senate meeting on August 23, 2019 in which BJP RSS tried to behave in an undemocratic manner and dictatorially tried to make appointments against regulations and laws established through Panjab University Calendars. It also criticised declarations and threats of newly nominated member to Senate Union State Minister Som Parkash that structural changes could be made to monopolize BJP’s edge in Senate like abolishing of Art 370 in J&K. Since this forum was established for constructive interventions in Education and keeping in mind the recent developments in Senate the forum unanimously decided to field Dr Kuldip Singh from graduate constituency of the Senate for the coming elections of Senate in September 2020. The Forum also took a serious note of the declaration made by Punjab School Education Board Mohali to charge hefty examination fee of Rs.15000 by giving special chances to students who have already exhausted their chances of compartment. If such a declaration is being made keeping in mind the 550 years anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji it should be free as charity for the students.