Education Policy

Policy Writer: Naya Yug |

The Constitution provides directives regarding the development of education throughout the country. The areas in which the respective central and state governments have domain have been identified in the Constitution as the central list, state list and concurrent list. Until the late 1970s, school education had been on the state list, which meant that states had the final say in the management of their respective school systems. However, in 1976, education was transferred to the concurrent list through a constitutional amendment, the objective being to promote meaningful educational partnerships between the central and state governments. Today, the central government establishes broad education policies for school curricula development and management practices. These serve as guidelines for the states.

• Section 3.1 - For hard-working, rural-India and middle-class families, we should offer college tuition tax deduction every year to help families send their kids to college.
• Section 3.2 - We need to make college education and skill training available for every Indian. Getting basic education should be the right of every Indian. Implementation of Section 4.5 & Section 4.14 of Naya Yug National Agenda for Governance.
• Section 3.3 - Provide financial incentives for states that successfully improve student achievement. Provide more choices and competition within the public school system.
• Section 3.4 - We should set up a revolutionary plan to improve our public schools by increasing our commitment to education, and making education a national priority.
• Section 3.5 - We need to provide more character education and discipline in our schools. Set up a strong national measures to break up violent teen gangs and keep guns and drugs off the streets and away from schools and colleges.
• Section 3.6 - We need to reduce class sizes not just in the early grades, but in all grades. We should make it easier for parents to save for their children’s college tuition — tax-free and inflation-free.
• Section 3.7 - We need to expand student loans and lower their cost to students. Everyone who is willing to work and join the mainstream workforce must have the chance to go to college.
• Section 3.8 - Companies should provide an educational benefit program for it’s employees.
• Section 3.9 - We need to make more investment in public education system.
• Section 3.10 - We need to set up special tribunals with jurisdication on various educational malpractices, including overcharging of fees and non-payment of students’ dues by institutions. Presumably "overcharging of fees" refers to the so called donations that are forcibly demanded and collected.
• Section 3.11 - Article 19(6) of the Constitution should be invoked to ensure a holistic development of higher education, and prevent commodification and profiteering. Article 19(6) allows the State to put "reasonable restrictions" on the exercise of the right to establish and run educational institutions conferred under Article 19(g) - the freedom to practise any profession, carry on any occupation, trade or business.
• Section 3.12 - Education is a vital input for human resource development and is essential for economic growth. This has also been corroborated by new economic growth theories. Article 45 of the Constitution of India stipulates that the State shall endeavour to provide within a period of 10 years from the commencement of the Constitution for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of 14 years. We need to enforce the Article 45 of the Constitution.
• Section 3.13 - Special steps should be taken to eliminate discrimination, universalize education, eradicate illiteracy, create a more gender-sensitive educational system, increase enrolment and retention rates of girls and improve the quality of education to assist life-long learning as well as development of occupation/vocation/technical skills by women.
• Section 3.14 - Expand and improve comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Ensure that those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to and complete free and compulsory primary education of good quality.
• Section 3.15 - Implement as a matter of urgency education programmes and actions to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Create safe, healthy, inclusive and equitably resourced educational environments conducive to excellence in learning with clearly defined levels of achievement for all.
• Section 3.16 - Amendment of the Constitution to make elementary education a fundamental right.
• Section 3.17 - All citizens of India should have equal access to education. The specific needs of the disadvantaged sections of the society ought to be met through the curriculum. Education regarding India’s cultural heritage needs to be imparted to students in order to develop national identity and a spirit of togetherness.
• Section 3.18 - Besides national identity and unity, it is also imperative to develop international understanding through the curriculum. Protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources should be major objectives of school curriculum.
• Section 3.19 - All states should adopt the three language formula - Hindi, English & Regional language. The introduction of English at the primary stage is one of the demands growing economy.

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