Given that education falls within the purview of state governance, the central government lacks the authority to devise an education policy unilaterally. Siddaramaiah remarked that the National Education Policy (NEP) was crafted by the central government without involving the state administrations. He further opined that the imposition of such a policy constitutes a conspiracy. The complex tapestry of Indian society, marked by its multicultural and diverse nature, renders the establishment of a uniform education system impractical.
Notably, even states under BJP rule have exhibited reservations about implementing the NEP. Kerala and Tamil Nadu, both of which are not governed by the BJP, have explicitly communicated their decision to the central government to refrain from adopting the NEP. Siddaramaiah remained confident that the state’s treatment should not be prejudiced, as centrally funded programs are applicable uniformly to all states.
The Chief Minister expressed apprehension that the NEP would disproportionately impact economically disadvantaged individuals, scheduled castes, tribal communities, backward classes, and rural populations. He highlighted the inadequacy of educational institutions in terms of infrastructure to effectively enforce the new education policy, leading to unnecessary confusion.
In the past, the Congress-led government in the state had proclaimed its intent to revoke the National Education Policy that had been instituted by the previous BJP administration. Karnataka was the inaugural state to implement the NEP. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, labeling the NEP as the “Nagpur Education Policy,” announced the policy’s abandonment in Karnataka. He stated that a new education policy would be developed in consultation with education experts in the following week to benefit future generations.
“We are unwavering in our commitment to abolish the NEP in line with our manifesto. Two cabinet ministers will put forth proposals for the committee’s formation. The new policy will be formulated promptly. While excelling in various sectors, we won’t embrace the flawed NEP. States like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have not adopted the NEP, so why should Karnataka?” questioned Shivakumar.
Addressing the question of deemed universities choosing to adhere to the NEP, steps will be taken based on expert advice. “Education falls within state jurisdiction; we seek no external interference,” he affirmed.
