Exclusive Interview: Now private schools and colleges will not be able to charge arbitrary fees

The Central Government has recently announced a new education policy. Sharad Gupta of Amar Ujala spoke to Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank about the impact of this policy on various aspects of education. Here are the highlights of the conversation…

When the draft new education policy was ready in 2016, why did it take so long to implement it?

India's future depends on this policy. That is why the microscopic study was needed. Suggestions were taken from the public, academics, state governments, and central government ministries. A special meeting of the Central Education Advisory Board (CAB) on National Education Policy took place in September 2019. In which 26 Education Ministers from various States and Union Territories participated. The presentation was also made before the Standing Committee of Parliament on 7 November 2019.

From which states did the objections come and what were they like?

Most of the objections to schooling were related to funding. Like how the funding would be for the mid-day meal as well as the morning breakfast. In the case of higher education, most of the objections were about recognition. Since education is part of the concurrent list, we will implement any suggestions after considering them with the states. This education policy supports increased investment in education by the central and state governments. We will work together to bring it to 6 percent of GDP.

What are the five most important points of the new education policy and how will students benefit from these?

Mainly to ensure quality elementary education for all children between 3-6 years old with a substantial increase in investment and new initiatives. Five key things for me include multiple entry and exit systems, achieving 100% enrollment ratio for schooling, the single regulator for higher education in addition to law and medical education, integrated for science, arts, humanities, mathematics and professional fields Education and providing vocational education to 50% of the students by the year 2025. The most important of these is the multiple entries and exit system. Now, if a student is not able to study further after studying six semesters of engineering, then he/she gets nothing. Now after leaving the study after one year, you will get a certificate, diploma after two years and a degree after leaving studies after three-four years. It will have a major role in reducing the drop out ratio in the country. The proposed education policy will promote employment-oriented education in the country and end the culture of rote learning.

What will happen to the fees control of private schools? Will NCERT books be applicable in all private schools? Will the gap between the rich and poor end?

It has been made clear in the policy which institute can charge how much fee for a course. The maximum fees will also be fixed. These rules regarding fees will apply equally to both higher and school education. Both private and government institutions will be subject to this rule. How much higher education will change with the merger of UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. There will be a comprehensive all-inclusive umbrella body for the promotion of higher education under which independent units will be formed for standard-setting, financing, accreditation, and regulation. This body will perform faceless regulation with technology. Has powers to act on private or government institutions that do not follow standards

When will the impact of the policy be seen at the ground level?

The target of 100% gross enrollment in school education is to be achieved by 2030 through this policy. This will benefit more than 30 million children in the age group of 3-6 years. By 2025, 120 million primary school students will be benefited from the Foundation for Learning and Numerical Skills through the National Mission. Efforts are made to ensure that every child comes out of school by specializing in at least one skill.

A large number of our graduates, especially engineers, are not qualified enough to get a job. How to ensure this?

The new education policy will decide that our students will not become job seekers but will be job seekers. An autonomous body will be created. Which will lead to the appropriate integration of technology across all levels of education?

Why are our best universities and technical institutes also unable to make it to the list of world's best institutions?

The criteria of international ranking like QS and THE depends on how many foreign faculty and foreign students are in that institute. The Indian institute may not be that far ahead. That is why we brought our ranking method to NIRF.