Status quo to continue until new state education policy is formed: Karnataka Higher Education Minister

In a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Monday, it was decided that the current education policy framework will not be tweaked during the ongoing academic year and those studying under the National Education Policy (NEP) will be allowed to finish their third year of college.

The government said the committee will suggest whether students can be given the option of continuing four-year honours programs, and multidisciplinary education, among others. Currently, the NEP is implemented only in higher education institutions in the state, with the erstwhile state BJP government having introduced it in 2021.

Speaking to Indian Express, Sudhakar said, “We do not want to disturb the existing education framework and impact the transition of students from one year to another. In fact, as per our assessment and feedback from colleges, there are very few takers for the four-year honours program. Most of them prefer to quit at the end of the third year. I would also like to clarify that a four-year honours program is an option and not mandatory as per the NEP.”

He further said, “Under the NEP, after a student finishes his third year, he can take a break and come back later to study further with the help of accumulated credit points… We feel it is not required. If a student wants to come back, he/she can pursue post-graduation as it existed earlier. As far as multidisciplinary education is concerned, we will continue it because we do not want to create confusion in the minds of the students. Since some students are already in the final year, we cannot derail the academic year abruptly by scrapping the NEP. Otherwise, two years of their life will be wasted.”

During the meeting, Siddaramaiah also expressed his concern that the NEP will adversely affect the poor, scheduled caste, tribal, and rural students. “Even if certificates are issued every year in the case of higher education, how many job opportunities do the ones who studied for one or two years get? Even if poor students get job opportunities and quit studying in a year or two, will they be able to study further in the future?” he quipped.

Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who also attended the meeting, said, “Education policy cannot be implemented without taking the state government into confidence. Even BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh have not implemented the NEP. In Karnataka, the NEP was implemented without taking into account our education infrastructure.”

He added, “During Siddaramaiah’s earlier stint as chief minister, the Knowledge Commission had prepared a report for the education department. We will review this report and take references if needed for formulating the state education policy.”

‘Important to imbibe secular mindset’

In a separate meeting convened with vice chancellors of state universities Monday, Siddaramaiah stressed the importance of imbibing secularism.

“It is important that we train students to build scientific temperament and also ensure that they are not influenced by caste, religious, or linguistic affiliations. Activities and actions that are against the Constitution should not take place in the universities. If students coming out of universities are still ignorant and cling to caste identities, then they cannot be called educated. Education given in universities should not be religious, ignorant, and conservative, but scientific and rational.”

A section of vice chancellors raised the issue of a ‘lack of financial support’ from the state government, and the rise in vacancies in teaching and non-teaching posts, among others. Prof Dayanand Agsar, vice chancellor of Gulbarga University, said: “We are operating with only 30 per cent of the required staff. We lack adequate teaching and non-teaching staff, and infrastructure despite coming under the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board. To implement the NEP, we do not have the required human resource and infrastructure. We have submitted our concerns before the chief minister, and he has assured us of addressing them.”

Siddaramaiah added that “establishing universities in all districts despite financial deficit was not a good decision. It is of no use if the infrastructure is not provided. During my earlier stint as chief minister, more than 3 per cent of the budget was allocated for education. Efforts will be made to provide more funds to the higher education sector from next year.”