Thousands of students protest against NEP, CUET, NEET, BJP’s education policies at Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: The United Students of India, a group of 16 student outfits, marched towards Jantar Mantar along with thousands of students from across the country to raise voice against “draconian education policies like NEP, CUET, NEET”.

The student groups claimed that the students from various parts of the country were questioned by the police before departure from their states. In an attempt to stop students from taking part in the march, the UDI alleged that university administrations also tried to stop students and discouraged them from participating.

Several leaders spoke about the “deteriorating condition of the education system and ill effects of NEP and CUET” and appealed to the students to “reject the BJP in the upcoming general elections as this dismantling of public education is owed to their policies”.

Resist CUET, NEET, Agnipath scheme

Among several demands, the students appealed to students to reject National Education Policy (NEP 2020), Common University Entrance Test (CUET), national-level entrance exam for undergraduate (UG) admission in central universities, and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), the single largest medical entrance exam, which was rejected by several states, mainly by Tamil Nadu due to increasing number of NEET-related suicides.

It also demanded that the Agnipath scheme be withdrawn and to resist fee hikes for equal access to education.

VP Sanu, All India President of Students' Federation of India, said, "There has never been a more communal government as this BJP-led NDA government. Their sole agenda is to divide the people and the students over communal lines but we the students of India will not accept a government that attacks the principles of secularism and federalism of our dear nation. We will not accept this BJP that wants to sell our education to the capitalists."

Dinesh Sreerangaraj, All India Students' Federation (AISF) general secretary talked about the need of alternative education policies on the state level to counter the National Education Policy (NEP).

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Students’ demands

Dipsita Dhar, All India Joint Secretary of SFI, read out the demand charter. The charter read the following demands.

• Reject National Education Policy (NEP 2020), NEET, and CUET.
• Enact Bhagat Singh National Employment Guarantee Act, ensure education and employment for all
• Resist fee hikes and ensure free, quality education from kindergarten to post-graduation
• Resist communalisation-commercialisation-centralisation of education. Uphold the democratic secular progressive scientific temperament in education
• Protect and create rights and opportunities for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Castes (OBCs), and other marginalised groups in education and employment. Implement reservation policy in the private sector
• Enact the Rohith Act and stop discrimination based on caste and economic status.
• Establish GSCASH on every campus- Make all educational institutions free from sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Form committees against sexual harassment as directed by the Supreme Court in all educational institutions.
• Conduct Students' Union Election on all campuses. Ensure the democratic rights of the academic community.
• Roll back Agnipath scheme.