Latest news with #Rashtraneeti
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘DBSE will be phased out, no point in having two Boards'
As the Delhi government completed first 100 days, Education Minister Ashish Sood, in an interview with The Hindu, speaks about the government's achievements in the field of education, plans to set up CM Shri Schools, introduce new subjects like Rashtraneeti and Science of Living, regulate fee hikes in private schools, and gradually phase out the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE), which was introduced by the previous Aam Aadmi Party government What are some of the biggest achievements in the first 100 days in the field of education? Two major achievements stand out. First, we have initiated a 360-degree transformation of schools. CM Shri Schools, which will match private schools in infrastructure and quality, are being launched. These schools will have smart boards, AI tools to assist teachers, and language labs. All verticals of the National Education Policy (NEP) will be integrated into the curriculum. Second, we have addressed the issue of fee exploitation in private schools. A new law has been introduced to protect Delhi's common man from being overcharged. This legislation will ensure relief from unjustified fees. Since the new law is yet to be passed, how will fees be regulated this academic session? We aim to implement it soon and ensure that any excess fees charged are refunded to parents. In cases like DPS Dwarka, we sent a committee led by the District Magistrate. Today, parents have received justice in court thanks to that intervention. Will new CM Shri Schools be built, or will existing DBSE schools be repurposed? We don't have the time to build entirely new structures right away, so in the initial phase, we are upgrading existing buildings. Just like Pratibha Vidyalayas were converted to Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Schools of Specialised Excellence (SOSEs), some CM Shri Schools will be developed similarly. Others will come up gradually as new institutions. Will the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) be phased out? Yes. We haven't taken any new admissions under DBSE this year, and it will be phased out. There is no logic in having two Boards in one State. The previous government created confusion. We already have the CBSE, and the DBSE is linked to the International Baccalaureate Board, which is a separate Board altogether. This dual system does not make sense. There were issues regarding funding 12 Delhi government-funded Delhi University colleges. Has that been resolved? We're resolving that. On April 1, we released the grant-in-aid for the quarter, which addresses salary and infrastructure concerns. We want to avoid academic disruptions. New governing bodies will also be formed as per the law. What will be taught under the new subjects 'Rashtraneeti' and 'Science of Living'? Science of Living will address stress and anxiety in children through yoga, meditation, and emotional wellness. Teachings from spiritual leaders like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Baba Ramdev, and Jaggi Maharaj will be incorporated. Rashtraneeti will focus on civic responsibility, patriotism, environmental awareness, and values such as keeping the Yamuna clean. The curriculum is under development, and classes will begin this academic year. What lies ahead? Our biggest concern is that Delhi's poor parents should not be extorted, which is why we want to ensure strict enforcement of the new law. Additionally, we plan to launch a school ranking system, like in colleges, to encourage healthy competition. Government and private schools will be ranked separately and together, so they can compete and be on par with each other.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Fee hike Bill, curriculum revamp: What's changing in Delhi schools under BJP's first 100 days
As the BJP government marks its first 100 days in power in Delhi on Saturday, its work in the education sector reveals a blend of reversals of previous policies, new rollouts, and sharp political messaging. Under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood, the government has made a series of announcements reflecting a shift from AAP-era reforms to newer strategies aimed at overhauling school infrastructure and curricula. Here's what's been done on the ground since the party assumed office in February: Fee hikes, protests by parents and a new Bill The BJP government's initial days coincided with a wave of discontent across the capital as hundreds of parents from several private schools protested over fee hike concerns. The Indian Express on May 21 detailed how many families were struggling, with one parent stating, 'Our salaries can't keep pace.' In response, the government introduced the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation of Fees) Bill, 2025, aimed at regulating private school fees through a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism and imposing penalties up to Rs 10 lakh on schools for violations. Several schools, however, had justified the hikes, saying it was necessary to meet infrastructure demands, pay staff salaries, among other things. Revamping schemes –Deshbhakti to Rashtraneeti Curriculum: Introduced by the previous AAP government, the current dispensation has replaced the Deshbhakti Curriculum with the Rashtraneeti Curriculum. Minister Sood described Deshbhakti as 'focused on emotional slogans and symbolism,' whereas Rashtraneeti is designed to 'instill values of democracy, active citizenship, and understanding of India's governance structures.' The new syllabus includes modules on constitutional values, civic duties, and policy debates, and integrates 'No-Bag Days' for experiential learning. It is being rolled out alongside the Science of Living programme to promote mental health and holistic development. A school principal told The Indian Express that 'special attention is also being given to mental health and social well-being programmes in schools as well as the Rashtraneeti curriculum.' –New entrepreneurial push: Under the AAP government's 'Business Blasters' programme, students in Classes 11 and 12 of Delhi government schools were given seed money of Rs 2,000 each; for Higher Education Institutions, it was higher at Rs 50,000. This was replaced with NEEEV (New Era of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Vision), which is set to provide Rs 20,000 to student groups for entrepreneurial projects. The school principal quoted above, who is also involved in shaping the curriculum, said, '… this will be a better curriculum as it is more focused. Students from Class 8 would be first taught basic ideas and slowly introduced to more hands-on, complex projects by Classes 11 and 12. The money provided is also higher, which may motivate more students.' –Phasing out DBSE: A major structural change is the rollback of the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) created by the AAP government in 2021 for its Schools of Specialised Excellence (SoSEs). The BJP government has begun to transition these schools back to the CBSE. A report by The Indian Express on April 6 noted that the sudden announcement has led to confusion among educators and students, particularly around how the transition would impact those currently enrolled in DBSE-affiliated SoSEs. Budget claims and allocations Sood, in his Budget speech on March 25, contested AAP's education model. 'In 2020-21, Rs 15,383 crore was allocated to education. In 2021-22, Rs 15,904 crore was spent. In 2024-25, it increased to Rs 16,395 crore,' he said. However, he claimed Delhi spends just 1.5% of its GST revenue on education — less than smaller states like Manipur. He emphasised that the Rs 50,118 crore received by Delhi in GST compensation between 2018 and 2025 played a key role in sustaining prior allocations. Key budgeted commitments this year include: -Rs 100 crore for 60 CM Shri Schools with robotics labs, smart classrooms, and AI libraries. -Rs 100 crore for smart classroom upgrades in 7,000 rooms. -Rs 886 crore for ITI upgrades and Rs 20 crore to revive Pusa Polytechnic. 'The education proposals in this Budget will be implemented with complete integrity,' Sood asserted. When asked about changes in the education sector, Sood earlier told The Indian Express that while any previously introduced scheme, if found beneficial, would be retained, the new government would prioritise execution. Between 2015 and 2024, the AAP government introduced a range of schemes and initiatives in what it pushed forth as the 'Delhi education model'. These included constructing several classrooms, modernising government schools with smart boards and sports facilities, and launching initiatives such as the Happiness Curriculum and Deshbhakti Curriculum to focus on student wellbeing and civic values. Institutions like the Schools of Specialised Excellence and the Delhi Board of School Education were developed to support 'inquiry-based approach' and 'cutting-edge pedagogy'. However, AAP leaders frequently cited administrative and jurisdictional hurdles — particularly with the Lieutenant Governor's office — as impediments to executing some of their plans. In 2023, the AAP's proposal to send school teachers for training in Finland was initially rejected by the L-G, before later being approved for a cohort through SCERT. In July 2024, the Education Department ordered the mass transfer of over 5,000 government school teachers, which AAP opposed; the then Education Minister Atishi claimed the transfers lacked her consultation. Although the BJP government's rule has cleared out such concerns. What needs work But among the factors that are yet to be worked out are school infrastructure delays. The Indian Express reported on May 16 that two government schools, including one in Kirari, remained unused for several months despite being inaugurated. In a related case, the Delhi High Court instructed the government to begin admissions and make the Kirari school functional by July 15. The implementation of the newly announced measures is still pending. Speaking to The Indian Express, child rights lawyer Ashok Agarwal claimed that Deshbhakti classes were still being conducted at a Karawal Nagar school, indicating a curriculum transition lag. According to officials, NEEEV, Rashtraneeti, and a mental well-being programme are in the works, and a date of implementation is uncertain yet.
