Bengaluru: Dr. M. C. Sudhakar, Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister led a meeting at Bengaluru’s Vikasa Soudha, where he spearheaded a comprehensive review of the National Education Policy (NEP). Against the backdrop of the Congress party’s electoral promise to introduce a State Education Policy, Dr. Sudhakar ensured that the decision-making process would be thorough, involving consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
In a statement to the press following the meeting, Dr. Sudhakar outlined the Government’s commitment to gather comprehensive information and insights on the NEP. To facilitate this, academicians will be invited to a dedicated session where their perspectives will be sought.
The Ministry has also actively sought the opinions of retired Vice-Chancellors, who recently engaged in discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Furthermore, the experiences and feedback of college principals since the NEP’s implementation a year ago will be taken into account. The minister emphasised that only after such rigorous consultations will a final decision on the NEP be reached.
It is noteworthy that the Congress party extensively criticised the NEP when it was initially introduced by the previous BJP Government, calling it the ‘Nagpur Education Policy.’
In their Manifesto, the Congress party pledged to eliminate the NEP, signalling a clear departure from the policies of their predecessors.
Reflecting the Government’s determination to reassess previous administration’s policies, several ministers have expressed their intention to conduct thorough reviews of all laws enacted by the BJP Government.
Turning attention to textbook revisions, Minister Sudhakar announced plans to convene a meeting with Madhu Bangarappa, the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education. The purpose of this gathering will be to deliberate upon the matter and arrive at a decision that upholds the new Government’s standards of education.