DMK urges HRD Minister to scrap draft NEP

The delegation handed over a letter by party president MK Stalin to Pokhriyal and a report of an expert panel set up by the party, both of which demanded withdrawing the new proposals.

“In the interest of quality and equitable education to all in rural and urban areas and national development, I request the Union government to withdraw the DNEP 2019 in toto,” Stalin said in his letter. Many suggestions of the DNEP were against the spirit of the Constitution, principles of federalism and social justice, he alleged.

Several recommendations, including the three language formula, closure of rural schools and entrance test foradmissions in higher education institutions would adversely affect the educational rights of rural students, the top DMK leader asserted.

The report said the DNEP “has hidden agendas.” Opposing the three language formula and optional languages like French, the report said it would be very difficult for pre -primary and primary students to learn more languages. The draft talks about closure of rural schools, colleges, UGC and Universities. The alternative mechanism suggested by DNEP was moredangerous and disastrous, he said.    Vocational courses were given “big importance,” which was RSS and BJP’s indirect attempt to drive away the rural students from mainstream education to their caste-based hereditary occupation, it alleged.