Draft National Education Policy: Did we not really miss Common School System (CSS) agenda?

Bhubaneswar: The Draft New Education Policy 2019 includes some long-awaited shift
in the education sector many of which were long-standing demands of the civil society and are
highly welcome. However, there are some inclusions which needs to be reconsidered before it is
finalized, told civil society leaders while discussing in a consultative workshop on Draft National
Education Policy 2019, herein Bhubaneswar.
Sustainability Foundation, a state level non-profit organized this workshop in collaboration with
National Coalition for Education to come out with key points of recommendations on the policy as
the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India is seeking inputs and
suggestions on the Draft National Education Policy (NEP) 2019 from citizens by June 30.
“We welcome the policy as it talks about inclusion of both early childhood education and
secondary education under RTE, doubling the budgetary allocation for education, strengthening
decentralized mechanisms of teacher management and support and a possible come back of the
no-detention policy which was scrapped by the BJP led NDA Government.
However, our demand on Common School System is long standing and justified. The Education
Commission of India in its report in 1964-66 recommended the establishment of a Common
School System for all children irrespective of their class, caste, religious or linguistic background.
However, this has no place in the policy. Secondly, the policy specifically promotes private
schools in the name of quality education whereas there is no evidence to prove that private
schools deliver quality education. We hope that our feedbacks are taken into consideration for
the better future of children of our country,” said Mr Naba Kishor Pujari, Chairman of Sustainability
Foundation.
Policy experts on education from International NGOs and Odisha RTE Forum and members of
grassroots level NGOs from 15 districts participated in the workshop and placed various loopholes
of the policy based on the education rights of the children.
Dr Subhashree Das, Trustee Sustainability Foundation, Dr Prashant Kumar Acharya, Dr Sm
and prepared points of recommendations which will be submitted to the Ministry of Human
Resource Development, Government of India.
Key points of recommendation on Draft National Education Policy 2019 from CSOs:
1. Proper allotment of time slot should be provided for a brief explanatory review
2. Role priorities of different committees should be clear
3. Some ambiguities between government and private bodies give space for common school
system
4. Inclusive Education:
i. Categories like child labour
ii. Juvenile delinquencuies
iii. Orphan children and other needs to be included
iv. No priority on unrepresentative groups in policy
v. For inclusive educative a different curriculum pedagogy may be developed
vi. PTR norms to be redefined
5. Patternship with CSO’s is an welcoming idea which may be involved as per the
specialization
6. Inclusive Education is more of a socio-personal issue. Hence mindset of people, beliefs
and attitude need to be addressed.
7. Target to achieve inclusive education as mentioned in policy 2030 may be addressed
urgently and immediately.
8. Extension of RTE downward and uopward is an welcoming idea but refining infrastructure,
selection of teachers, teachers’ capability, teacher’s training may be specified in the plan
of Action.
9. Need clarity on assessment of at Foundation state of learning
10. Clarity on merging process of preschool and school need to specify
11. Mother parents to be included in SMC along with Educationist with their role clarity
12. Mother tongue based multi lingual education to be must atleast upto middle stage
13. Like English, Sanskrit may be introduce from middle level
14. Rural technology and traditional technology to be included from the very beginning of the
education process
15. Digital learning may be used with availability of all supportive infrastructure and human
capability
16. Subject wise teacher to be insured from middle state of education
17. Education from Foundation stage to be planed for vocation
18. Vocation education to start from secondary stage
19. Clear plan of Action of vocational education to draw
20. Concept with role, responsibility and accountability on School Complex
21. Clarity on including Anganwadi in School Complex to be made clear
22. Role, functioning, structure and accountability of State Regulatory Authority and
relationship /linkage between central regulatory authority
23. National policy on Research to be framed.