NEP generations at stake

The national education policy 2025 is being implemented with some demonstrable force by the central government and has been in news for its resistance by Tamil Nadu on the 3 language policy and political posturing has taken over dialogue. Downed in this controversy is meaningful debate over the policy. Education had been a state subject originally which was transferred to the concurrent list by the 42nd amendment. This was done mainly to standardize higher education so that mobility across states and acceptance of university degrees became smooth and also to have central boards. School education is best left to the states. Another key feature is mainstreaming pre primary education. It is a welcome change but most states and rural schools are not prepared and huge capacity building needs to be taken up and budget for it cannot be left to already stressed states. This would also require comprehensive nutrition support and policy is silent on it. Integrating vocational education with curriculum is also a noble idea but its rollout needs to be nuanced as it may reinforce caste prejudices and lastly the issue of increasing the presence of private, foreign and self funding institutions in higher education is a problematic move. Education has been the major tool of overcoming social inequities, it should not become the vehicle of enhancing the same.