Written by Pathi Venkata Thadhagath
Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the state government’s decision to scrap the National Education Policy (NEP) and implement the State Education Policy (SEP) is a foolish one. He also alleged that the decision of the Congress government will affect the future of children in the state.
Also Read – NEP to be scrapped in state from next academic year says Karnataka CM
Bommai told news agency ANI, тАЬThe National Education Policy was deliberated for several years and then it was brought to the implementation. It was designed by the top experts of this country for better education structure. It gives freedom of choice to the students and allows them to select their area of interest. It is nothing but foolish to ignore this well drafted policy.тАЭ
Bommai said that the students might revolt against the move of the Congress government in Karnataka. тАЬThe government can consider minor changes to the policy, but it is pointless to scrap the whole idea. This is going to trouble the future of students and even they might revolt against the move. Congress should not indulge in doing politics with the future of our students,тАЭ he added.
On Monday, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that the NEP will be scrapped from next academic year in the state. He said, тАЬNEP has to be abolished after making some necessary preparations. There was no time for preparations this year. By the time the election results came in and the government was formed, the academic year had already started. This year NEP will be continued as it should not cause problems to students in the middle of an academic year.тАЭ
In August 2021, Karnataka was the first state to adopt NEP in higher education. However, during the assembly elections in May, the Congress had promised to scrap the NEP in its poll manifesto. During the recent budget session of the state legislature, Siddaramaiah had said that it will be replaced by a state education policy.