Karnataka Minister Criticizes National Education Policy, Calls for Review

Minister Picks Holes In National Education Policy After Official Terms It Path-breaking | Bengaluru News - Times of India

Bengaluru: Higher education minister MC Sudhakar slammed the National Education Policy (NEP) in front of the University Grants Commission (UGC) vice-chairman, Deepak Kumar Srivastava, during the convocation of Bangalore University (BU), held at Jnana Jyothi Auditorium on Tuesday. Chief guest Kumar, during his convocation address, spoke of how NEP has brought about a "spectacular change" in the landscape of the Indian education system.Among NEP's "path-breaking initiatives" that will be game-changers for higher education, according to him, are multiple entry-multiple exit, automated permanent academic account registry, and national credit framework. Sudhakar, who spoke next, said there are practical difficulties with the system as it is oblivious to ground realities such as faculty shortage. "After the emergence of private universities, RGUHS, VTU, etc., many of our universities and colleges are solitary (single discipline) institutions. When a student wants to study an open elective -- say AI -- where is the faculty for it? If IITs have a 20% vacancy, imagine the condition of ordinary colleges. Except for a few private universities where all disciplines fall under one umbrella, multidisciplinary programmes aren't viable in public universities. The Centre needs to take another look at the provisions of NEP," he said. "We have a reason for opposing NEP. The multi-entry, multi-exit move is also debatable. We in Karnataka have brought back our state education policy. We have a three-major system, with the board of studies being given enough responsibilities," he said, adding that it is important the interest of public universities is safeguarded. It may be recalled that the minister had questioned the credibility of the National Institute of Ranking Framework to UGC chairman M Jagadeesh Kumar at the convocation of Bengaluru City University. On Tuesday, 26,210 students received their degrees at the 59th BU convocation. Renowned music director Gurukiran and KS Rajanna, former commissioner of the state under the Karnataka govt's Persons with Disabilities Act, received honorary doctorates. Governor and chancellor Thaawar Chand Gehlot was absent.

Karnataka Higher Education Minister urges Union government to relook at NEP 2020

Countering the convocation address of Deepak Kumar Srivastava, vice-chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC), at the 59th annual convocation of Bangalore University on Tuesday, Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar expressed his displeasure about the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and urged the Union government to re-look at the whole scenario, including multidisciplinary courses, entry and exit option, and credit-based education system. He alleged that when universities are facing a lack of teaching staff and other problems, the Union government is trying to impose things from the United States of America and education models from other western countries. In his convocation address, Mr. Srivastava said that with NEP, there is a spectacular change in the landscape of the Indian education system. "The Minister of Education and the UGC have taken several path-breaking initiatives that will be game changers for the quality of higher education in the country," he said, and also praised the multiple entry and exit systems and other aspects of the policy. Dr. Sudhakar said it is practically impossible to implement multidisciplinary courses according to the NEP and said the policy may be suitable for private universities or private educational institutes that have all the departments under one roof, but it is impossible in State universities which offer specific courses such as Agriculture, Law, Engineering, and Medicine. "We have 440 degree colleges in Karnataka for arts, science and commerce. According to the NEP, if somebody wants to do Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an open elective, where do we get the staff?," he questioned. "Already, collegiate and technical education in Karnataka have about 14,000 guest faculty members. All universities lack staff. I was told there are more that 20% vacancies in IITs. In this scenario, the Union government is trying to impose the western countries' model of education through the NEP in India," he added. The State government has opposed the NEP and decided to implement the State Education Policy (SEP) instead. The SEP Commission has submitted a preliminary report and it has been implemented from the academic year of 2024-25. "We brought back three core subjects pattern, along with open elective option and credit based system," he said, adding that the final report will also be received soon. Published - September 11, 2024 07:14 am IST Read Comments