ET BureauAfter 100 days of taking over as HRD ministry, Prakash Javadekar is set to initiate serious reforms in the education sector. In an interview to Anubhuti Vishnoi, the HRD minister says he plans amendments to the UPA-era Right to Education Act and will re-examine the issue of foreign universities but stands firm on Yoga in institutes and the debate on AMU’s minority status.
What is your position on the No-detention policy? Will you amend the Right to Education Act to scrap it?
Many states and people feel we have seen deterioration in education quality because in the RTE Act there was no mention of learning outcomes. So there is continuous evaluation happening on ground in many schools, then there is no learning happening, there is no examination and then there is no detention- so ultimately it has affected our education system. So on learning outcomes there is unanimity. I will definitely bring learning outcomes as part of RTE rules. Now as far as Nodetention is concerned, let CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education) take a call. Essentially it is a state issue. What we need to do is to see how to allow them if they want to do something. Amendment to the RTE Act can be done in two ways- one is that the Centre brings amendment to do away with that or Centre brings in amendment to allow states to take their call on No-Detention.
Are you relooking at bringing in foreign universities into India?
As far as foreign universities are concerned, the UPA had brought the Bill. I was in the HRD parliamentary committee and we had given a unanimous recommendation for allowing foreign universities, which are the top 200 ranking universities. However, the law could not be passed at that time because there was opposition from their own party. There are already twinning arrangements through AICTE and UGC . I will review what is being done.
Will there be an overhaul of regulatory authorities like UGC and AICTE as many committees have recommended?
Yes, the overhaul will happen, because there are many suggestions on this. But we will take decisions one by one, in a systematic way, a scientific way.
There have been a number of incidents of student unrest across campuses from JNU to Hyderabad University. Your comments?
In central universities we have more than two lakh students and there is no general unrest on campus. In, JNU I can understand that what has happened can worry somebody but confining the VC is not the answer, especially when he is ready for dialogue. This is not a democratic protest. I am a product of student movement and I understand protest but it has to be democratic. Dialogue is the answer. If dialogue is what we are advocating even with Pakistan, why are students not ready for dialogue even when the VC is inviting.
What is your view on student activism? The TSR Subramanian panel expressed a view against it.
It’s a democratic form and I always encourage it. Students basically come in universities for studies and majority wants to concentrate on career. But if there is something where they have some opinion, they have to have a place for voicing it At meeting of VCs, I asked them to be available and enter into dialogue on any issue.
Your view on the debate around the minority character of AMU and Jamia Universities?
The matter is in court. The government has not done anything, we are not changing stand. AMU was never a minority institute. Like BHU was not a Hindu university. It’s for all Indians. All central Universities are for everyone. When an amendment was brought in 1980s on this issue, G M Banatwala specifically proposed that they should be mentioned as minority institutes. That was defeated by Parliament. The whole House opposed that amendment.
Are you taking forward Baba Ramdev’s proposal for a Vedic Education Board?
There are always ideas and we are not adverse to discuss any . When we will take a decision, we will definitely inform you.
JNU academic court is learned to have opposed short-term courses on Yoga. Your views?
No, it is not rejected. JNU has clarified that it is being considered in the next academic meeting. 192 countries are practicing and celebrating yoga so why will India oppose it. It is people’s right, people are doing it. But there won’t be a compulsion.
The government and the HRD ministry do not seem to have inspired much confidence among Dalit student groups.
I don’t discriminate students on basis of caste religion or state. Everybody has right to get education and one of the pillars in the education policy will be equity and special opportunity for the poor.
What is your position on the No-detention policy? Will you amend the Right to Education Act to scrap it?
Many states and people feel we have seen deterioration in education quality because in the RTE Act there was no mention of learning outcomes. So there is continuous evaluation happening on ground in many schools, then there is no learning happening, there is no examination and then there is no detention- so ultimately it has affected our education system. So on learning outcomes there is unanimity. I will definitely bring learning outcomes as part of RTE rules. Now as far as Nodetention is concerned, let CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education) take a call. Essentially it is a state issue. What we need to do is to see how to allow them if they want to do something. Amendment to the RTE Act can be done in two ways- one is that the Centre brings amendment to do away with that or Centre brings in amendment to allow states to take their call on No-Detention.
Are you relooking at bringing in foreign universities into India?
As far as foreign universities are concerned, the UPA had brought the Bill. I was in the HRD parliamentary committee and we had given a unanimous recommendation for allowing foreign universities, which are the top 200 ranking universities. However, the law could not be passed at that time because there was opposition from their own party. There are already twinning arrangements through AICTE and UGC . I will review what is being done.
Will there be an overhaul of regulatory authorities like UGC and AICTE as many committees have recommended?
Yes, the overhaul will happen, because there are many suggestions on this. But we will take decisions one by one, in a systematic way, a scientific way.
There have been a number of incidents of student unrest across campuses from JNU to Hyderabad University. Your comments?
In central universities we have more than two lakh students and there is no general unrest on campus. In, JNU I can understand that what has happened can worry somebody but confining the VC is not the answer, especially when he is ready for dialogue. This is not a democratic protest. I am a product of student movement and I understand protest but it has to be democratic. Dialogue is the answer. If dialogue is what we are advocating even with Pakistan, why are students not ready for dialogue even when the VC is inviting.
What is your view on student activism? The TSR Subramanian panel expressed a view against it.
It’s a democratic form and I always encourage it. Students basically come in universities for studies and majority wants to concentrate on career. But if there is something where they have some opinion, they have to have a place for voicing it At meeting of VCs, I asked them to be available and enter into dialogue on any issue.
Your view on the debate around the minority character of AMU and Jamia Universities?
The matter is in court. The government has not done anything, we are not changing stand. AMU was never a minority institute. Like BHU was not a Hindu university. It’s for all Indians. All central Universities are for everyone. When an amendment was brought in 1980s on this issue, G M Banatwala specifically proposed that they should be mentioned as minority institutes. That was defeated by Parliament. The whole House opposed that amendment.
Are you taking forward Baba Ramdev’s proposal for a Vedic Education Board?
There are always ideas and we are not adverse to discuss any . When we will take a decision, we will definitely inform you.
JNU academic court is learned to have opposed short-term courses on Yoga. Your views?
No, it is not rejected. JNU has clarified that it is being considered in the next academic meeting. 192 countries are practicing and celebrating yoga so why will India oppose it. It is people’s right, people are doing it. But there won’t be a compulsion.
The government and the HRD ministry do not seem to have inspired much confidence among Dalit student groups.
I don’t discriminate students on basis of caste religion or state. Everybody has right to get education and one of the pillars in the education policy will be equity and special opportunity for the poor.
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