Interview: ‘NEP 2020 has sidelined India’s minority communities’

RAIPUR (CHHATTISGARH): The National Education Policy 2020 was framed “avoiding” submissions made by organisations representing minority communities such as the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, said its president, Arun Pannalal. He represents about eight-10 lakh Christians in Chhattisgarh, including members of the clergy.

In the works since 2015, the new national education policy was passed and implemented by the Narendra Modi government in 2020 without tabling in parliament. The NEP’s prescriptions on lower and higher education – especially on the revision of textbooks and allowing untrained volunteers to have a role in education – have allowed “hatred against minorities” to seep into the education arena, said Pannalal. The policy decisions that the NEP underpins have also undermined federalism and state roles in education, said Pannalal in a conversation with Careers360.

Q. What are your concerns about the NEP 2020?

The NEP 2020 as a whole has sidelined all the minorities from India’s education system. For instance, NEP has asked all the schools to have a student-to-teacher ratio of 25:1 whereas, in the integrated special education zones, recognising and categorising areas which are socially and economically backward, and having a special need for educational development.

Further, for now, all the schools are run by the principal. But in NEP 2020, it is mentioned that schools are to be managed by the school management committees (SMC) where only the principal will be working as a member along with civil society members, parents, students, political appointees and social workers. This means that sadhus, political workers and bureaucrats will be a part of school management.

Also Read | ‘No Autonomy Possible’: In NEP, CUET, teachers see erosion of academic freedom

Q. According to you, how will NEP impact the foundational level and junior level of schooling?

In the NEP, at the foundational level of schooling, in the two-five years age group, untrained volunteers have been added as a lateral entry and their education qualifications have not been specified in the policy. In India, until now no such people have received entry into the education system.

Q. How will the implementation of NEP impact religious seminaries?

Under Articles 29 and 30 of the Indian Constitution, minorities are given the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Hence every religion, despite being in the minority or majority, has the liberty to run its religious seminaries and insulate government’s interference in these schools. However, NEP 2020 gives the state authority to interfere in religious matters and seminaries. The policy document states, “Alternative forms of schools, will be encouraged to preserve their traditions or alternative pedagogical styles. At the same time, they will be supported to integrate the subject and learning areas prescribed by the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) into their curricula in order to reduce and eventually eliminate the underrepresentation of children from these schools in higher education. In particular, financial assistance will be provided to introduce science, mathematics, social studies, Hindi, English, state languages, or other relevant subjects in the curriculum, as may be desired by these schools.”

However, we as a community suggest that it would be a welcome step if a government-approved recognised and dedicated university for religious affairs is created. All the students passing out from such universities will get government-recognised degrees. This will help all the communities in getting rid of imposters.

Q. How will NEP impact the tribal communities?

Tribal communities are already deprived of fundamental rights of livelihood and NEP is further sidelining them. The New Education Policy suggests students will learn three languages in their schools wherein two of the three languages must be native languages of India. Tribal students must be taught English else the policy may further isolate localised identities, such as tribals, along with too much burden on the students. We request the government to re-look at the three-language formula for the overall growth of the tribals as well.

Q. How are states getting impacted because of NEP 2020?

Currently, every state has its own State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) wherein every state prints its books. But in the New Education Policy, they have removed the strength of SCERT and they cannot independently formulate policies.

Also Read | Centre ‘ignores’ suggestions: Kerala SCERT has concerns over curriculum framework

Democracy in India is a federal structure where every state has the freedom to govern its people and its state, and education is an integral part of a state’s welfare. But now with the implementation of NEP, the government has destroyed that federal aspect as well. Can we still be called a democratic country after the implementation of NEP?

Q. What do you think of the new textbooks?

In the NCERT books published and distributed in 2021 [by the National Council of Educational Research and Training], there are teachings and stories from one religion. For instance, Bal Ram Katha is a Hindi subject book prescribed for Class 6, Bal Mahabharat Katha for Class 7, Bharat ki Khoj for Class 8 and several other books. While we welcome the teachings of Vedas in textbooks, there has been no mention of any other religion.

This is a hypocritical stand where the NEP 2020 only echoes the voices of one religion and leaves other religions which are also a part of India’s social fabric. Further, the recently distributed NCERT history books are mostly talking about the struggle of only Hindus with their religious flags being displayed all over the textbooks. During independence, all people irrespective of their religion, creed or caste fought for the independence of India. But why is only religion given space and the rest removed? All religions should find their respective space in the textbooks.

Q. What suggestions on NEP 2020 did your forum submit?

We suggested that states must be given the freedom to formulate their policies which will be in synchrony with the doctrine of federal structure.

Further, the data of student enrollments should only use their first name followed by a national personal identification number wherein a student’s caste or religion is not known to anyone, which is the cause of discrimination in schools. Further, the access to data of students should be done through a court order only.

In terms of language, we have suggested that the English language should be made compulsory for tribal and village schools. Teachings of all religions must be incorporated into the curriculum along with checks and balances to stop any kind of back door entry of any religion.

Further, independent government-run religious universities should be created which will educate priests and theologians to cater to their community’s needs. The government recognised degrees in religion should be made mandatory for all practising priests.