A coalition of educationists, academics, civil society representatives, and policymakers has come down heavily on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, labelling it as ideologically biased, fiscally deceptive, and structurally flawed.
Hyderabad:A coalition of educationists, academics, civil society representatives, and policymakers has come down heavily on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, labelling it as ideologically biased, fiscally deceptive, and structurally flawed. They stressed that the NEP, in its current form, was unfit for India’s diverse landscape and asked the Telangana government to develop its own education policy tailored to local realities.
Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Telangana Education Commission in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Prof. Shantha Sinha, former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, called out the policy’s legal standing. “NEP 2020 was never debated in Parliament nor discussed with states. It bypassed Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) and is essentially non-binding. This reveals how disconnected it is from ground realities.”
Speakers spoke about how NEP provisions — from restructuring school clusters and cutting mid-day meals to the multiple-entry-exit system in undergraduate education — are worsening dropouts and quality gaps. “We are blaming teachers for a systemic learning crisis, without addressing core inputs,” said Prof. G. Haragopal.
Akunuri Murali, chairperson of the Telangana Education Commission, said the NEP attempted to dismantle public-funded education. “With higher education budget allocations not even at 1.8 per cent of GDP and school education severely underfunded, where’s the commitment to quality education,” he asked. He also questioned claims that 4.4 per cent of GDP was spent on education, citing actual figures closer to 0.44 per cent.
Another pressing concern was the lack of readiness among Anganwadi centres, which the NEP expected to absorb pre-primary education. “How can 600 sq. ft. spaces replace infrastructure meant to be five times that size,” Murali asked.
Speakers, including MLC Prof. M. Kodandaram and Prof. P.L. Vishweshwer Rao, warned against the growing centralisation of education. “The shift to a common entrance system and diluted coursework fragments student learning, reduces diversity, and hands over control to central agencies,” Prof. Kodandaram said.
The absence of any mention of the Right to Education (RTE) in NEP 2020 sparked further outrage. “It doesn’t mention RTE at all. That’s shocking. Education is not charity — it’s a right,” said Prof. Rao.
Language policies, saffronisation concerns, and ideological filtering in curriculum were also discussed, with warnings that public universities risk becoming ideological training centres.
“Education must enable constitutional values and protect pluralism — not promote a singular worldview,” said Prof. Rama Melkote.
