New Education Policy | Battle Over New Education Policy Continues

Summary

The ongoing debate over India's New Education Policy (NEP) continues as state and central governments clash particularly over the three-language policy. While states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka oppose the policy citing impositions on linguistic diversity, others like Andhra Pradesh support its implementation for educational benefits. Experts on a broadcast debate the rationale behind these stances, considering both the updated guidelines aimed at modern educational needs and potential misinterpretations hampering its acceptance.

Highlights

• Tamil Nadu and Karnataka oppose the NEP's three-language policy, arguing it imposes on linguistic pride. 💬
• Andhra Pradesh supports the NEP, highlighting benefits in communication and cultural diversity. 🗨️
• Experts suggest NEP's 297 recommendations provide comprehensive educational enhancements, only needing rational debate for policy improvements. 📘
• Misinterpretation of guidelines may hinder NEP's success, highlighting the need for clear implementation strategies. 📈
• The debate underscores the necessity of consulting parents and students in educational reforms. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Key Takeaways

• The NEP's three-language policy faces opposition from some states over linguistic imposition concerns. 🗣️
• Despite controversies, the NEP aims to modernize and revolutionize India's educational system with significant updates. 📚
• Experts emphasize the NEP's flexibility, allowing states to adapt policies instead of facing imposition. 🛠️
• Misinterpretations of the NEP's guidelines might cause unnecessary disputes among states. 🤔
• There is an emphasized need for educational policies to consider parental and student preferences. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Overview

The New Education Policy (NEP) in India has reignited discussions, focusing mainly on its three-language policy. Southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka express concerns over linguistic impositions, favoring a two-language system instead. However, supporters, including Andhra Pradesh, argue the benefits of multi-language learning in fostering communication skills and enriching cultural interactions.

Experts from the educational sector discuss how NEP's comprehensive 297 recommendations aim to address modern educational demands globally. The guidelines provide flexibility, inviting states to personalize implementations without any mandatory impositions. Misunderstanding these intentions can lead to unnecessary debates and hinder advancements.

Panelists stress the importance of inclusive policy development that considers inputs from educators, parents, and students. Such democratic engagement can ensure policies meet diverse educational needs and respect cultural sentiments, facilitating a more harmonious adoption of new educational reforms throughout India.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 02:30: Debate on Three Language Policy The chapter discusses the ongoing debate between the central government and various states in India regarding the three language policy. Tamil Nadu is strongly opposing the policy, advocating instead for a two language policy. Karnataka's Chief Minister, Sardar Maya, has also expressed opposition, urging the central government to withdraw the policy, citing that it does not adequately address the diverse educational needs of India's states. Conversely, Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister, Chandra Babu Naidu, supports the policy, stating that no language should be hated and advocating for understanding among languages.
• 02:30 - 05:00: NEP's Impact on Education Sector The chapter discusses the impact of the National Education Policy (NEP) on the education sector, highlighting the importance of fostering mother tongue instruction while acknowledging the practical benefits of learning other languages such as Hindi for communication and economic opportunities. The debate around the NEP considers whether it can enhance educational standards and infrastructure or if it unduly alters state education systems. The conversation includes perspectives from various experts and stakeholders.
• 05:00 - 07:30: Linguistic Diversity and Cultural Concerns In this chapter, there is a discussion on the linguistic diversity and cultural concerns related to the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP) in India. Dr. Amit Chandra, CEO of the Center for Civil Society, and Dr. Nisha Nudin, a public policy expert, join a broadcast to share their insights. The conversation highlights differing perspectives, with some southern Indian states opposing the NEP while figures like Chandra Babu Naidu recognize its potential benefits for the youth.
• 07:30 - 10:00: Expert Opinions on NEP Implementation The chapter titled 'Expert Opinions on NEP Implementation' covers the discussion on language learning within the context of the National Education Policy (NEP). The conversation emphasizes that learning multiple languages, including Hindi and regional languages, can be beneficial for youth. The expert highlights that young minds are open to learning many languages and are capable of learning as many as possible. The discussion avoids delving into the political aspects of the NEP.
• 10:00 - 12:30: Choice and Customization in Language Policy The chapter titled 'Choice and Customization in Language Policy' delves into the complexities of creating language policy within the framework of broader educational policies. It examines the challenges that arise when individuals or groups have objections to parts of a comprehensive policy, such as the National Education Policy (NEP), which comprises nearly 300 recommendations. The focus lies on understanding how it is possible to disagree with certain aspects of a major policy while still engaging with its overall framework. The discussion encourages contemplating the balance between supporting a policy's overarching goals and the customization of its specifics to address individual concerns.
• 12:30 - 15:00: Conclusion and Panelists' Final Thoughts The chapter discusses a debate on the subject of a certain policy or recommendation, referred to as NEP. The speaker expresses frustration over the lack of rational or objective arguments presented by opposing parties during the debate. They point out the absence of academic discussions on the issue and attribute the criticisms mainly to political motivations. The speaker also notes that despite being in the fourth year since the introduction of this policy, there has been a sudden emergence of opposition without new academic backing, implying that the objections are more political than substantive.

New Education Policy | Battle Over New Education Policy Continues Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 all right now the ongoing debate between the center and the states over the three language policy doesn't seem to die down Tamil NAD is opposing the three language policy under the NP and continues to bat for two language policy in the state Karnataka chief minister sidar Maya has also joined the bandwagon and has urged the center to withdraw the NEP arguing that it fails to address the educational needs of India's diverse States however Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandra Babu Naidu has backed the NP and said that no language is meant to be hated Naidu said that one should give
• 00:30 - 01:00 importance to the mother tongue but at the same time one needs to learn Hindi as it is useful for communication in Delhi and other languages we can learn for earning livelihood well even as this debate continues the linguistic Pride of the states aside the larger question is that does the new education policy have the potential to scale up the education sector or are states justified in their argument that the NEP would alter the State education system to talk more on that we have guests joining us on the broadcast here we have director General
• 01:00 - 01:30 and CEO of arise VES Menan joining us here on the broadcast uh Dr Amit Chandra CEO of Center for civil society Dr Nisha nudin who is a public policy expert thank you so much uh to all my panelists for being with us here on the broadcast Dr Chandra if I could come to you first now even as some southern states are opposing the an there are voices that suggest that bringing in the NEP is beneficial for our youth including Chandra Babu Naidu who said that no
• 01:30 - 02:00 language must be hated and learning Hindi or any other Regional language is only going to benefit our youth what is your view on that certainly uh I think there is no doubt many people have actually talked about it that the young mind is actually very open to learning new languages and it can not just learn three languages as many languages uh as possible they should be learning uh I won't get into the politics side of the NEP but basically I
• 02:00 - 02:30 don't see that only and even if there is some contention uh around the language policy you can actually oppose the entire NEP look at NEP actually it has more than 297 recommendation 297 right roughly 300 recommendation and even if you have some objection on one thing how can you oppose the entire education policy now give it a sense and then two
• 02:30 - 03:00 so far in this entire debate I have not found one rational objective argument as to why you want to oppose one particular thing and and I have not seen really any academician actually talking about it the only thing we see is the politics NEP came in 2020 this is fourth year today you are all all of a sudden waking up and saying this particular recommendation is not that you are going to adopt in any case
• 03:00 - 03:30 when this new government came in Tamil Nadu they then only decided not to go ahead with NEP and they created their own committee to create State education policy now even that entire process in my opinion because I was actually looking for what's happening who are the people what's the argument what is differently that they are doing they had created a 15 member committee came up with a state education policy entire process in my opinion was completely
• 03:30 - 04:00 not transparent and even today if you actually look for there are some news articles about ABC recommendation but if you actually try to find out the actual piece of document it's not available so to I mean as I said I don't want to get into politics that's not my business I want to talk about education and therefore if any objective argument is presented we can debate about it otherwise there is nothing in the NEP as
• 04:00 - 04:30 such to be opposed there are few things which we also as an educationist have criticized about it but it has to be a positive criticism giving the key objection and also presenting what is the alternate solution You're simply saying that okay three language formula I would not adopt well so then you want to stick with only two languages or you want to further expand four languages who is saying Hindi imposition as part of nap nap nowhere says h Hindi is
• 04:30 - 05:00 mandatory it is saying three language policy it is also saying that mother tongue education will be promoted it is actually saying till grade six grade 8 and even and in some cases what has happened they are asking to create textbook learning material entire curriculum even in engineering colleges in the mother tongue so that more and more students could benefit from it I mean and therefore once again I'll say bring some rational argument we are happy to debate about it okay Mr Man if
• 05:00 - 05:30 I could come to you you know there are some apprehensions that have been raised by the Southern States but you know putting politics aside does the NEP have the potential to scale up the education sector I I certainly believe it does uh I mean the fact is that after 34 years nearly three and a half decades we've had a new policy that is coming in and the guidelines obviously are designed to take care of some of the modern requirements that education classrooms you know the the modern requirements that are required inside a classroom
• 05:30 - 06:00 through education uh the fact is over three and a half decades lot has change in this world uh you know look at look at the changes we've had changes in technology we've had changes in the internet we've had smartphones coming in uh the Gen Z is now learning education in a very different manner so you know when you when you create a guideline it is designed to address a certain cohort of students and India that way is so diverse I me we're talking about nearly 260 million students spread across the country uh to try and address each one
• 06:00 - 06:30 of them requires a certain guideline which is kind of you know cuts across the entire range of students and I think what the NP uh 2020 is trying to do is precisely that U and and and I I agree with Dr Chandra that you know it is not in any case attempting to try and put any imposition what it is simply saying is that if and and honestly the three language for formula that you're talking about it has been an existence right from 1968 right from the first MEP right down to 2020 the three language formula
• 06:30 - 07:00 remains it is just started to get evolved and it's just getting more better so what they're now saying is that ensure that there are two native languages which are learned and one foreign language and it's leaving the native languages totally to the states so that is one part apart from that you know there are many other areas like you know credits the credit system the ability to choose uh you know multi-disciplinary subjects these are all extremely Progressive if you only look at it having said that if I were to only make one comment on the probable
• 07:00 - 07:30 areas that could have been better in NEP when you roll out a guideline like this I think it is also important to roll out the implementation methodology the methodology to help interpret it you see the pro half the problem comes because of the interpretation how a state and how District inside a state interprets one particular policy is very different from what another District interprets in another state and that is why I think half the confusion is uh is really coming up okay all right valid point
• 07:30 - 08:00 raised there Dr Nisha if I could come to you now should there be any problem with our youth learning a third language I mean our states justified in their argument that they're opposing the N is there any Merit in their argument the NEP 2020 if you see is basically put forward the goal of modernizing or revolutionizing the entire education system because what we need today is Not Mere textbook knowledge rather what we need today is a kind of vocational along with development perspective so from 10+ 2 to
• 08:00 - 08:30 5+ 3 plus 3 again has a lot of benefits indeed we all know like having a holistic and a multi disy learning is the major object of Na at the same time if you see a lot of flexibility and choices or the factors or the call as inclusivity inequity all these are the advantage of N I do agree same time now when you come when when you talk about imposition of a three language formula see I am somebody who supports language language is actually as as some of the speakers also mentioned here it is a form of it's a medium where you kind of
• 08:30 - 09:00 communicate with each other now a compulsory any language actually holds a lot of relevance because the cultural ethnicity and the cultural diversity of many many states are being taken away here now in the context of Tamil Nadu if you see because I again again work with certain projects over here so I personally what I felt here is that when you try to talk about the educational development and a holistic perspective English is indeed a global language which actually help us to have a multiple globalization perspective as a
• 09:00 - 09:30 whole because not every the problem what is the what is what is why is there so much halalu of imposition then promoted let me tell you one thing if you see Buri if you see uh you know I mean certain languages like that because there before today the number of people who belong to that particular Clan who speaks that is very less because of the excessive uses of Hindi now when Hindi comes I'm not even I talk Hindi you know I'm not saying you shouldn't talk Hindi it should be a choice it should not be a force now when you try to force something on anybody
• 09:30 - 10:00 what happens is that you need to understand it is we are in a democratic country and we not a country where we follow hitlerism so so basically you know in a very Centric perspective implementation of NEP should not be focused only on a three language formula rather do we have the required facilities the teacher training programs the proper implementation facilities are we able to overcome all these things are we chra also mentioned here and Mr Men also as we've been speaking to them that nowhere in NEP it says that Hindi is going to be imposed rather learning a
• 10:00 - 10:30 third language whichever language uh you know the students want to learn that's that's going to be given as a choice even we have it so what is so new that if you go to a college or a school if you see the second language you can have Hindi you can have the conern mother tongue you can have French you can have German because if you see in the walls of AI what are we having now we are basically uh you know promoting encouraging other languages so to all the people who say that Hindi is a national language Let me please correct it's not a national language the highest number of the highest number of people
• 10:30 - 11:00 they speak Hindi I agree to that followed by T and followed by Bengali doesn't mean that tomorrow somebody will come and say Hey you make Telugu and Bengal you know another important language okay let me let me let me you know before I wrap this up Mr Menon and Mr Chandra uh you know uh you know last few comments from you Mr Men if I could come to you now my only comment would be that I think it is a it is a very well thought through guideline I think it tries and
• 11:00 - 11:30 addresses most of the requirements of the modern s and and you know India is a country where there are close to 260 million children studying in schools and there are close to 1.4 million schools you can imagine the size that we we represent as a country uh and and therefore I think you know like I said earlier what is important is to ensure that interpretation it's to ensure that interpretation comes through right I think that is very very important uh you know for example when they say a foreign language does English fall into that
• 11:30 - 12:00 category or is English by default anyways there because it is an official language you know these are the kind of small doubts that continue to emerge inside the classroom so that needs to be sorted out Abs if there is a child from a Gujarati family sitting inside Chennai school what is it what's going to happen is that Gujarati family child going to be taught Tamil Tamil compulsorily or is it just that it's one of the choices that he or she has to make because he is okay those are valid concerns and importants that you raised there all
• 12:00 - 12:30 right uh Dr Chandra I won't have much time your last comments three bullet points number one not just language policy the entire NEP is a set of guidelines nothing is mandatory states can customize and Implement as per their choice and therefore this entire argument of imposition to me does not look valid second don't only think about State becoming Guardian whether it's a central or the state please consult parents and students also if they are
• 12:30 - 13:00 choosing Hindi or whatever language and whatever they wish to learn please facilitate that right and you have to respect the Democratic choice of parents please don't go against that consult schools consult teachers consult parents consult students third in any case if you look at data the the little old data which I have is roughly 46% students in state were enrolled in private schools
• 13:00 - 13:30 including lowcost private schools only roughly 35% students are now going to government schools and as much I know all of these private schools are in following three language uh formula they are teaching Hindi in one of my conversation one school representative actually said we want to teach Hindi to our students because parents want it because when they go outside Tamil Nadu also they can communicate there are better job opport unities if they go to
• 13:30 - 14:00 Delhi and they have to live and work how would they coordinate and therefore there is a demand right and in any case all of these 46% uh students who are going to private schools who are a little bit wealthy are actually learning three languages who they are depriving and 35% students who canot afford private school going to government School you are depriving of their choice absolutely and it should be a choice and yes all parties need to be taken into uh you know consultation uh we understand into
• 14:00 - 14:30 agreement uh the parents of course of the State uh I mean politics of course keeping politics aside this is something that of course needs to be taken into account well the opinions and views of the parents of these children also need to be taken into consideration and that is what Mr Chandra also here has been pointing out that you know 47% of the students here in the state who've been going to private schools have been opting for Hindi and this is what Chandra Babu Naidu also today said that
• 14:30 - 15:00 Hindi is something that needs to be learned if uh you know you go to Delhi you want to earn livelihood that's a common medium but it's of course not uh our national language but something that uh could actually facilitate the students there and it's not about uh the imposition of Hindi any language of you know the choice of the students can be learned but yes uh uh it's time that the politics on this issue needs to and uh the you know the the con the we
• 15:00 - 15:30 understand the future well yes the concerns of the students need to be taken into account thank you so much well uh I'm sorry I won't have much time thank you so much to all my panelists for joining us here on the broadcast