University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, speaking at the University of Hyderabad convocation, raised certain concerns regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He pointed out that there was opposition to the NEP 2020 in some quarters and questioned the rationale behind such opposition, emphasizing that the policy was considered a significant national vision. The chairman underscored that the NEP 2020 had been an inclusive process, involving stakeholders from various regions and educational institutions across the country. He stressed that those with academic reservations about the policy had ample opportunities to provide their input. In his address, he also highlighted that opposing the NEP 2020 for non-academic reasons undermined the future of students.
Specifically, he mentioned the introduction of four-year undergraduate programmes with a research component in the fourth year and expressed concern that if certain universities or states do not implement these programmes, it could negatively impact the students. Furthermore, the chairman stressed the importance of academic credits for student mobility and the need for consistent implementation.
Why opposing the #NEP2020 is adversely affecting the students.
— UGC INDIA (@ugc_india) October 29, 2023
Watch Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, UGC Chairman during his address at the Convocation of University of Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/KqbQVOk34j
The UGC chairman said, "There are some areas where the National Education Policy lags behind. Some people oppose NEP 2020. I don't see why anyone should oppose NEP 2020, which is hailed as one of the best visions we have set for our country. For academic reasons, if you oppose NEP 2020, there have been several occasions where your input could have been given."
"NEP 2020 is one of the policies where stakeholders have been contacted across the country, in the state, and in educational institutions to gather input and incorporate them into NEP 2020. If you oppose NEP 2020 for non-academic reasons, you are only undermining the future of our students. We have introduced four-year undergraduate programs with a research component in the fourth year. If any university or state doesn't implement it, it's going to hurt our students," he further added.
Since the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) three years ago, most states have either fully accepted the policy or selectively implemented certain aspects of it. Resistance to the policy has primarily arisen from states governed by Opposition parties, such as Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, which have either delayed its implementation or outright refused to adopt it.
The Karnataka government has declared its intention to replace the National Education Policy with a state-specific education policy and has established a panel of experts to create this policy. In September 2023, the Kerala government unveiled the Kerala Curriculum Framework (KCF), indicating not to align with the NEP 2020, particularly regarding the '5+3+3+4' school education structure. Kerala is set to craft its own policy, particularly regarding pre-primary education models and the age criteria for Class 1 enrollment. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin recently restated the state's refusal to implement the NEP 2020 and revealed plans to form an expert committee for devising an education policy specific to the state. In August 2023, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said the state government was developing a unique 'State Education Policy' that aligns with the state's history, future objectives, economic progress, and professional perspectives.
The West Bengal government has asked the state universities to introduce four-year undergraduate courses in the upcoming academic session, in line with a partial adoption of the National Education Policy (NEP). However, the state subsequently announced its own education policy, indicating that it won't fully accept the national policy.
The NEP, introduced in July 2020 as an update to the 1986 education policy, serves as a comprehensive framework for education, spanning from primary education to higher education. The NEP is not mandatory for states, and they are free to accept or reject the policy.
