Bengaluru: In a significant move, the state government of Karnataka has initiated the development of a Karnataka State Education Policy (KSEP), signalling a shift away from the existing National Education Policy (NEP) introduced during the previous BJP administration.
This pioneering endeavour has led to the constitution of a 15-member committee, with former University Grants Commission chairman Prof. Sukhdev Thorat at the helm, charged with the task of formulating the KSEP. The committee has been entrusted with the responsibility of presenting its recommendations by February 28, with a view to implementing the new policy in the upcoming academic year.
According to an official government order, the committee has been mandated to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the educational landscape within the state, encompassing primary, secondary, and higher education.
The 15-member committee brings together a diverse array of experts from various academic backgrounds, collectively pooling their expertise for this crucial undertaking. Eminent members include retired IAS officer and former Secretary of School Education for the Government of India, Sanjay Kaul.
Additionally, the committee includes luminaries such as Prof. Jagan Shankar, former Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University; Dr. Furqan Qamar from Jamia Millia University; A Narayana representing Azim Premji University; and educationalist Niranjan Aradhya, among others.
The government order also designates eight experts to serve as advisors to the committee. This esteemed panel of expert advisors includes Prof. Yogendra Yadav, Prof. Janaki Nair, Prof. Rahamath Tarikere, and renowned innovator Sonam Wangchuk, among others. The committee holds the authority to co-opt additional experts as deemed necessary during its deliberations.
It’s noteworthy that the Congress party in Karnataka has consistently expressed its dissent regarding the NEP, even pledging its repeal in their election manifesto. They have often referred to the NEP as the ‘Nagpur Education Policy,’ underscoring their reservations about its structure and implications.
In contrast, leaders of the BJP have advocated for essential amendments to the NEP rather than its outright repeal, citing the complexities inherent in a comprehensive overhaul of educational policy.