CHENNAI: With the Union Education Ministry introducing the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA) Bill in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) and seeking the support of higher educational institutions across the country, academicians and education experts in Tamil Nadu have called for expediting the implementation of the long-pending State Education Policy (SEP).
The proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill aims to create a unified framework, replacing regulatory bodies such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), to streamline governance and enhance efficiency in regulation, accreditation and standard-setting under the NEP.
The Tamil Nadu government, which has been opposing the NEP, has so far released a State Education Policy (SEP) only for school education, which stresses a two-language formula of Tamil and English, rejecting the three-language formula, citing Hindi imposition. It rather focuses on critical thinking, skill development, digital literacy and holistic child development. However, the policy is yet to be implemented in institutions, and a similar policy for higher education has not yet been released.
Former Anna University Vice-Chancellor E Balagurusamy alleged that the government had not released the SEP for higher education because it had been unable to identify any substantive departures from existing frameworks
Association of University Teachers leader Gandhiraj said academicians had been stressing that the government should introduce a State Education Policy for higher education and implement it in letter and spirit. “We do not understand why a separate policy for higher education has not been released so far,” he said.
Highlighting the challenges involved, he said implementing the policy would require the State to allocate additional funds for appointing teaching staff and improving infrastructure in higher educational institutions. He added that stronger welfare measures for the State Education Policy would be required to counter the Centre's NEP effectively.
PB Prince Gajendra Babu, General Secretary, State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS - TN), emphasised that the State should implement the State Education Policy at both school and higher education levels for the benefit of students. He also stated that the expert committee tasked with drafting the SEP should provide regular updates on the progress of the exercise.
Meanwhile, a senior official from the Higher Education Department noted that there was little clarity within the department on the progress made by the expert committee.
Former Anna University Vice-Chancellor E Balagurusamy reiterated his criticism, alleging that the government had not released the SEP for higher education because it had been unable to identify any substantive departures from existing frameworks.