Form education cadre service: Panel

The T.S.R. Subramanian Committee, entrusted with preparing a draft for the Modi government’s new education policy for India, has recommended the formation of an education cadre service to improve the administration of education and that high-quality institutions from abroad be allowed to come into the country.

The committee’s 200-page report has given specific suggestions to raise education standards, which are found wanting in many respects from the primary to higher levels, sources said.

Sources said the panel has suggested that high-quality institutions from abroad be allowed to come into the country, though with appropriate restrictions. With PM being a strong votary of skill development, the committee has also emphasised on aspects related to skilling and vocational education. The panel is learnt to have emphasised imbibing values and confidence in students. It also suggested making the regulatory mechanism, with UGC and AICTE, for technical education more in tune with contemporary requirements.

One key suggestion is to focus on “remedial coaching” and “hand-holding” to ensure the learning outcome of children does not suffer. The committee in its report is also learnt to have devoted a chapter on the impact of coaching classes for entrance exams. “The committee has made specific recommendations, from infrastructure to quality of education, which is an issue of concern, from the primary to higher levels,” sources said.

Former Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra, former Delhi home secretary Sevaram Sharma, former Gujarat chief secretary Sudhir Mankad and former National Council of Education Research and Training director J.S. Rajput are the other members of the committee that prepared the draft national education policy. The task of preparing a new education policy has been undertaken after almost three decades.