New Delhi: The much-touted TSR Subramanian report — appointed during the tenure of the then HRD minister Smriti Irani for making suggestions for the new national education policy — is likely to be put on a backburner.
The HRD minister Prakash Javadekar is keen on continuing his own consultation process on the issue while utilising the report as only an “input in the wider scheme of things”, sources said.
It is learnt that the finalsation of the new national education policy could be delayed by several months as Javadekar is expected to hold further consultations with several stakeholders including members of Parliament, educational institutes, academia and even the Sangh affiliates for further enhancement of the draft.
The government has already pushed the last date for seeking suggestions on the NEP twice. Miffed at the government attitude on the issue during the tenure of Ms Irani, the former Cabinet Secretary Subramanian, who had submitted its suggestions to the Ministry on May 27, had even threatened to make public his panel’s report.
Sources said that implementation of a new NEP was one of the major issues that was being pushed by Prime Minister Narendar Modi himself as the NDA government tries to leave its imprint on the important education sector of the country.
The last policy was made almost three decades ago in 1986. Sources said that the government is now expected to prepare a draft education policy with additional inputs that are generated through new consultation process.
What the panel had suggested:
- Reinstating detention of students beyond Class V
- Setting up an all-India cadre of educational services on the lines of the IAS
- Overhaul of regulators such as the UGC
- Inculcating values and nationalistic pride in school students
- Audit of all higher education institutions every three years
- Allowing foreign universities to set up campuses in the country
