Hyderabad: Stating that the new education policy of India has to be “student-centric,’’ new Union minister for human resource development Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that education was not a subject for “party politics’’ and he was open to suggestions from anyone to improve the quality of education in the country.
“Education is not a subject for party politics. But it is an important issue. We will have a discussion on it with everyone. It will play a big role in bringing changes in the India in the 21st century,’’ he remarked.
Mr Javadekar, who replaced Smriti Irani after her controversial two-year tenure, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision to improve the quality of education and make it more meaningful.
Mr Javadekar has also a Hyderabad connection as he played a key role in the BJP-TD alliance in undivided AP, before the state was bifurcated.
“Education should be seen as an emancipator and an agent of change. I will come out with a roadmap after consultations with PM and others, including Ms Irani. I accept this responsibility humbly. I will talk to our earlier minister Murli Manohar Joshi in this regard,’’ he told media persons in New Delhi. Mr Joshi, a former BJP president who is now part of Margdarshak Mandal, has been critical of the Modi government.
Mr Javadekar said that the real challenge is to make education meaningful. “Poor parents work hard to educate their wards. To provide quality education is our aim and we will be able to do it,’’ he said.
Mr Javadekar said that he would formally take charge on Thursday.
