Tript Bajwa slams new education policy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

Punjab’s Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa today said the draft of the new National Education Policy indicated its saffronisation by the BJP-led NDA government.

Talking about the policy at a conclave organised by the joint action committee of unaided colleges, Bajwa said the new education policy, if implemented, would pose a challenge to the multicultural and multilingual environment of the country. 

“Though the policy reiterates India as a democratic republic with justice and equal opportunities for all, the word ‘secular’ has been omitted which is a cause for concern for the religious and linguistic minorities of the country. It is like implementing the RSS agenda. The new policy is being imposed as a part of a conspiracy to downgrade Punjabis,” he said.

He further said the draft policy was printed in all languages, except Punjabi. Claiming the new policy advocated centralisation of every aspect of education, he said the states had different needs in the academic sector depending upon their own culture and languages but this aspect would be negated by the new policy.

Bajwa called upon the other states to raise their voice against this new education policy so as to save the regional languages and cultures.  Giving his suggestions, the Minister said the new policy must be pro-poor and strengthen the government institutions sans any restrictions with special emphasis on the teaching about social causes.

He exhorted the academicians of the state to send their suggestions about the loopholes in the new policy which would be compiled into a draft and discussed with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh before being taken up with the Centre.

Earlier, Maharaja Ranjit Singh University Vice-Chancellor Mohanpal Singh Isher, Baba Farid University VC Dr Raj Bahadur, Modi College principal Dr  Khushwinder Kumar and Director General of the Doaba Group of Colleges Dr Daljit Singh also aired their views about the new policy.