JOIN USThe Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry is in a bind over putting the draft of the proposed National Education Policy in public domain.
The major cause for dilemma is the apprehension that the draft maybe met with instant criticism once made public as the panel of experts which formulated it had just one academician among its members, while four others were ex-bureaucrats.
Concerns as to whether the 200-page report of the drafting committee contains certain observations or suggestions that could stoke “unwanted” controversies is another concern, according to official sources.
The five-member committee, headed by former cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian, submitted the draft of the proposed National Education Policy to the HRD Ministry on May 27, almost a month after its term to complete the exercise expired.
Former director of the National Council for Educational Research and Training J S Rajput was the only academician in the panel.
“Report of the committee is being examined thoroughly. No decision has been taken to put the draft report in public domain,” a ministry official told DH. While addressing a conference here, HRD Minister Smriti Irani recently said the draft policy will be discussed with the states “publicly”. A new education policy will be presented to the nation only after “assimilation of all points of view,” she added.
After the committee submitted the draft policy, however, a view emerged within the ministry as to whether it would be appropriate to release it in public domain immediately.
When the committee was first set up in November last, it was described as “drafting committee for framing of national education policy” with its terms and conditions clearly defining its role as a panel to be prepare a draft on the basis of the feedback and suggestions from stakeholders at various levels.
However, the nomenclature of the name of the committee was later modified to describe it as a “committee for evolution of the new education policy”.