(a) whether the Government is in the process of countrywide consultations to frame a new Education Policy;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the present status of the process;
(c) whether the Government has received suggestions for setting up of an autonomous body for education on the lines of Election Commission of India;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government thereon; and
(e) the time by which a new Education Policy is likely to be framed?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.
***********
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 134 FOR REPLY ON 29.07.2015 ASKED BY SHRI P. NAGARAJAN AND DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN REGARDING NEW EDUCATION POLICY
(a) and (b): The National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986, which was modified in 1992, envisages, inter alia, a National System of Education to bring about uniformity in education, making adult education programmes a mass movement, providing universal access, ensuring retention and improving quality in elementary education, special emphasis on education of girls, establishment of pace-setting schools, like Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district, vocationalisation of secondary education, synthesis of knowledge and inter-disciplinary research in higher education, starting more Open Universities in the States, strengthening of the All India Council for Technical Education, encouraging sports, physical education, Yoga and adoption of an effective evaluation method. Since the last Policy, several changes have taken place which call for a revision of the Policy. The Government has initiated the consultation process of formulating a New Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regard to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge. A multiple level consultative process involving all stakeholders, such as, educationists, teachers, and students across all levels is being undertaken. The online consultation process is going on www.MyGov.in portal and nearly 21,500 suggestions have been received on 33 identified themes.
A High Level meeting was taken by Minister for Human Resource Development on 14.02.2015 to discuss the consultative process for formulation of NEP and invite suggestions of other Government of India Ministries and Departments to devise curriculum from their perspective. The NEP Task Force has been set up to monitor the progress of the consultation process from time to time. Another consultation meeting was held on 21.3.2015 under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister of Human Resource Development with the State Education Ministers and State Education Secretaries to discuss the consultative process on formulation of New Education Policy (NEP) mainly focusing on the grass root consultative process which are to take place from village and move upwards to the Block, District and State levels. The summary record of the discussions can be accessed from www.mhrd.gov.in. Presently, the State Governments have initiated action for conducting the grassroots level consultations. All relevant documents related to New Education Policy can be accessed from NEP corner on MHRD website www.mhrd.gov.in. The NEP Task Force has been set up to monitor the progress of the consultation process from time to time.
(c) and (d): The Government has decided to review the existing Education Policy through a consultative process for which bottom-up approach has been adopted instead of setting up of an Education Commission for the time being.
(e): The Government has set a timeframe to formulate the New Education Policy by December, 2015.
**********