National Education Policy is Arbitrary: Khasi Students’ Union

A Correspondent

SHILLONG: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has written to the Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) expressing their views on the draft National Education Policy, 2019.

In the memorandum to MHRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, the Khasi Students’ Union said that it was of the view that the current draft National Education Policy has been prepared arbitrarily without taking into account the prospects of the State of Meghalaya which is still lagging behind in terms of educational elevation.

The KSU said that it was of the opinion that framing policies and rules by centrally constituted bodies whereby States are bound only for implementation are against the spirit of the federal structure of the nation.

“Such a maneuver will not serve the very purpose of educational equity amongst different States owing to the wide disparity in terms of educational progress and aspirations,” the students’ body said.

The KSU was of the opinion that although rules and policies will be framed by central bodies, yet the States should be endowed with the option of deciding their own road maps for the better interests of the student's community in that particular State.

The KSU also said that it does not accept the idea of promoting Hindi language and reduce the importance of English language in a multi-diverse country like India with a plethora of written and spoken languages.

The students’ body said that instead of more emphasis should be laid on native languages in home regions at par with both English and Hindi and furthermore no particular language should be made compulsory in the entire country.

On the matter of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), the KSU has proposed that a State-based GER would be better suited for the overall educational development instead of a nation-wide single GER.

“Enrolment procedures vary from one State to another in terms of rural-urban division, development, population, area, and educational advancement. Therefore, a State-specific GER with financial allocation will serve the purpose of the policy,” the KSU said.

The students’ body of the State also said that imparting education is an uphill task especially for the marginalized sections of the society and therefore, the extension of pre-primary schooling to three years will result in a one year plus for completion of school education, which the union feels that it will be a burden for a state with relatively high Human Poverty Index.

The KSU also suggested the MHRD that in view of the diversity of the country, the Education Policy should stress on the aspects of regionalism such as the distinct history, culture, language, habits, and customs. The KSU also pointed out that the history, culture, language, freedom fighters, of the Khasis, is poorly represented in the schools’ curriculum.

Also Read: New Education Policy: Dispur To Send Views To HRD Ministry