Kochi: The new educational policy of the BJP-led NDA government is likely to be rolled out next year, Union HRD minister Smriti Irani said on Sunday.
"The deliberations on the proposed new policy will start next year and we should have a policy," she said. "We will start a new educational policy soon. Educational policy takes seven months to three years and politicians, bureaucrats and experts draw it up. But there is need to involve principals, teachers and students in the educational policy," she said.
Irani was speaking at a valedictory function of the 21st Annual Sahodaya conference of CBSE at nearby Nedumbassery.
Addressing principals and teachers from CBSE schools across the country and abroad, she said, "The future of the country lies in your hands. I say this not only as HRD minister, but as also a mother of two CBSE school-going kids."
She said parents want a safe and secure environment for their children in schools. Pointing out that India is going through an evolution, she said the nation's destiny has for too long been vested on those who did politics and now there was a chance to transform India for the better.
"I stand here as witness of the desire of people to seek transformation and this cannot happen only in government. It should happen at the grassroots and teachers should be a vehicle to bring about the change," she said.
The minister, who also rolled out 'Saransh', a tool for comprehensive self-review in schools, said it was a big step. As part of this, parents can be intrinsically involved in academic achievements of children from classes 9 to 12, she said.
It should not be used as a 'pressure tactic', but as an enabler, especially for children with learning challenges, she added. She also said the 'Kerala Kalolsavam' wherein competitions in various dance and art forms are held annually in the state, should be taken to the national level.
Currently, state boards and CBSE schools in Kerala conduct such art festivals. "We have competition in sports, in essay writing. I join my voice for teachers of Kerala to take Kala Utsav to the national platform," she said.
