AISEC offers alternative to NEP 2020, opposes closure of govt schools in Karnataka
The 'All India Save Education Committee (AISEC)-Karnataka State Committee' has opposed the closure of government schools in the State and urged the appointment of adequate number of teachers.
The committee has released a draft People's Education Policy-2025 (PEP), an alternative to National Education Policy (NEP 2020), on May 22 with a request to the government of Karnataka not to give non-teaching work to teachers, abandon the no-detention police, and to strengthen public education.
Allama Prabhu Bettaduru, president of AISEC, told reporters, 'Over the last five years, we had organised hundreds of workshops, debates, discussions, seminars, symposia, conventions and public gatherings to seek the opinion of people on NEP-2020, and also their alternative to its contentious recommendations.
'We feel proud to say that this PEP is the outcome of tireless efforts of hundreds of educationists and thousands of teachers, professors, students and the general public. Due to their tireless efforts, the government of Karnataka has constituted a commission to formulate a State Education Policy (SEP),' he said.
'In spite of severe resentment among the people to various recommendations of NEP 2020, we are shocked to note that the government of Karnataka has decided to close down 6,000 government schools. This closure of schools, under the pretext of merger, is an important recommendation of NEP 2020,' he added.
The draft PEP recommends the two language formula to promote the mother tongue and English language, scientifically developing the language policy, secular, scientific, democratic and universal education system, at least 10% of the Central budget and 20 to 25% of the State budget for education sector.
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