inter state consultation (south india) on new...

Inter State Consultation (South India) on New Education Policy P a g e | 1

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Inter State Consultation on

New Education Policy

16th July, 2015

Facilitated by

Save the Children India & RTE Forum

Participating States

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil

nadu & Telangana states

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new

landscapes but in having new eyes”–Marcel Proust

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Southern

Region of

India


Background

The National Policy on Education was framed in 1986 and modified in 1992. Since then several changes have taken place that calls for a revision of the Policy. The Government of India is planning to bring out a new National Education Policy to meet the changing dynamics of the population’s requirement with regards to quality education, innovation and research, aiming to make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge and to eliminate the shortage of manpower in science, technology, academics and industry. For this, Government of India is embarking on a time-bound grassroots consultative process, which will enable the Ministry of HRD to reach out to individuals across the country through over 2.75 lakh direct consultations and planning to take inputs from citizens of our nation through online.

To facilitate the discussion at each level, the government has shortlisted 32 themes and expects broad parameters of the new policy to emerge around them. On the web portal the HRD has suggested themes in two categories i.e. school education and higher education. Following are the themes to share one’s thoughts:

SN Higher Education School Education 1 Governance reforms for quality Ensuring Learning Outcomes in

Elementary Education 2 Ranking of institutions and

accreditations Extending outreach of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education

3 Improving the quality of regulation Strengthening of Vocational Education 4 Pace setting roles of central

institutions Reforming School Examination Systems

5 Improving State public universities Revamping Teacher Education for Quality Teachers

6 Integrating skill development in higher education

Accelerating rural literacy with special emphasis on Women, SCs, STs & Minorities through Adult Education and National Open Schooling Systems

7 Promoting Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and online courses

Promotion of Information and Communication Technology systems in school and adult education

8 Opportunities for technology enabled learning

New Knowledge, pedagogies and approaches for teaching of Science, Mathematics and Technology in School Education to improve learning outcomes of Students

9 Addressing regional disparity School standards, School assessment and School Management systems


Objective of the Inter State Consultation

To illicit experts views and develop a New Education Policy

To seek the opinions of different sections of people from South India and to consolidate

key recommendations for the Education policy

To develop a road map for advocacy for the proposed recommendations to the policy

relating to education

10 Bridging gender and social gaps Enabling Inclusive Education – education of Girls, SCs, STs, Minorities and children with special needs

11 Linking higher education to society Promotion of Languages

12 Developing the best teachers Comprehensive Education – Ethics, Physical Education, Arts & Crafts, Life Skills

13 Sustaining student support systems Focus on Child Health

14 Promote cultural integration through language

15 Meaningful partnership with the private sector

16 Financing higher education 17 Internationalization of higher

education

18 Engagement with industry to link education to employability

19 Promoting research and innovation

20 New Knowledge

Thus, citing this few of the leading organization working for the child rights and development have come forward to review the policy and suggest recommendations for its betterment. Accordingly, Save the Children and RTE Forum has taken lead in organizing a interstate level consultative meet to illicit opinions and ideas. Thus a meeting was organized in Hyderabad for the Southern states of India.

INTRODUCTION

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children that works to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. In view of the proposed New Education Policy posted on MHRD website seeking comments from different stakeholders and experts, Save the


Children and Right to Education Forum organized an Inter-State Consultation on the New Education policy at Hyderabad with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as participating states. Facilitating Agency Save the Children and Right to Education Forum Date 16th July, 2015 Venue NKM Grand, Hyderabad, Telangana Nature of participants Representatives of leading Civil Society

Organizations, Networks, National Law School of India, Thematic Experts, MLC, Teacher Associations leaders, Network Convenors etc.

Participating States Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil nadu and Telangana of South India

Mr. Murali Mohan, National Member, RtE Forum welcomed all the participants who have come to attend this consultative meet. On behalf of Save the Children and RTE Forum he profoundly thanked all the partner organizations and individuals for mobilizing the participants. Then briefed the participants about the purpose and background of the meet, he explained the objectives and requested the participants to utilize this opportunity to contribute effectively to the new policy.

He set the background by briefing about the role of each person to strongly review and recommend the inputs for the policy, since it is coercion on citizens of our country. He briefed that NCERT and SSA has been given the responsibility for conducting consultative meets in 270000 villages and urged the participants to actively participant and provide the inputs through the communities at respective locations. He also expressed his immense satisfaction on the gathering for the meet especially prominent experts in the sector, Teachers Associations and Network Conveners. Then he introduced the agenda for the meet, as follows:

Time Agenda Facilitators 10:00 AM –10:10 AM

Welcome /Inaugural session

Mr. Ch. Murali Mohan, Member National RtE Forum

Session: 1: Presiding over the meeting: Mr. Abrish Rai, National Convenor, RtE National Forum, Delhi

10:10 AM – 10:20AM

Lighting the Lamp All Guests

10.20 AM- 10.30 AM

Opening Remarks Ms Alka Singh, State Programme Manager, Save the Children, (AP, Telangana, Tamilnadu and Karnataka)

10.30 AM-12.30 AM

National Policy on Education (NPE)& Perspectives

NPE & Child Rights Perspective: Ms. Santha Sinha, Former Chairperson, NCPCR

NPE & Quality concerns: Dr Sanjeev Rai, National Thematic Manager-Education, Save the Children

NPE & MGML: Dr Y.A. Padmanabha Rao, Director, Rishi Valley, Krishna Murthy Foundation India


Mr. Ambrish Rai, National Convenor, RtE Forum

NPE & Budget allocations: Dr Niranjan, Member, Centre for Child and the Law, National Law University of India &Former Member, SCPCR, Karnataka

NPE& Key challenges: Mr Ambrish Rai, Convenor, National RtE Forum, Delhi

Session: 2: Chairperson: Dr Sanjeev Rai, National Thematic Manager, Save the Children

12.30 AM-01.30 PM

Open discussions on National Policy on Education & key challenges in achieving RtE Compliances by participants/views and suggestions

02.15 PM to 03.15 PM

Open discussions on National Policy on Education & key challenges in achieving RtE Compliances by participants/views and suggestions

03.15 PM to 03.45 PM

Consolidation and sharing of key highlights/ Recommendations

Mr M.Sreedhar, National Advocacy & Policy Manager, Save the Children and Mr SreeNageshMalladi, Programme Coordinator, Education, Save the Children,

Session:3: WAY FORWARD

04.00 PM -04.45 PM

Southern States RtE Forum resolutions/commendations

Mr. Ambrish Rai, National Convenor, RtE Forum

04.45 PM-05.00 PM

Vote of Thanks Ms.Chandana Maripally, Advocacy Coordinator, Save the Children

PROCESS

Chief Guests for the meeting Ms. Shantha Sinha, Dr. Niranjan, Dr. Sanjeev Rai, Mr. Padma Rao, Ms. Alka Singh and Mr. Ambrish Rai were invited on to the dais. After the lightning of lamp, Mr. Ambrish Rai chaired the meeting. As per the agenda Mr. Ambrish facilitated the process of self-introduction of the participants, wherein all of the participants have introduced themselves. Subsequently, the consultative meet was facilitated as per the circulated agenda.

Mr. Ambrish Rai stated that Education is a science which determines the course of the life and not merely for acquiring skills and for performance. He informed the meet that MHRD has posted the new education policy on its official website consisting of 13 themes on School Education and 20 themes on Higher Education

for opinion seeking. Even though, the education policy 1986 was in place, in the year 1992 it was revised and he alleged that the new policy has not considered the previous policies


Opening Remarks

Ms. Alka Singh, State Programme Manager, Save the Children

to frame the new one. Only 1000 persons were involved to frame the new education policy which has given vision and perspective of our nation.

He expressed is utter dissatisfaction with the non implementation of RTE Act, wherein there is a reduction in the budget of SSA by 50%, nonfunctioning of SMCs, no Village council involvement and informed that only 10% of RTE is being complied to. He stated that it is important to move towards universalisation of education through RTE Act, there is a huge disparity in the way education is operated by government. On one had government supports Kendrya Vidayala and also operated normal schools, the funding or KV is from the country’s GDP. He stated that the current central government in its election manifesto has mentioned about RTE, however, has failed to keep up to its promise.

He is concerned that Mr. Demanth Batra is unofficial commission set up by government to suggest and design the new education policy. Since, Education is a system which unites the culture and people he demanded that it should be taken up as topmost priority in the government actions. Thus, he demanded that the only recommendation to the new policy is to revisit 1986 and 1992 policy in a professional manner and give a continuum shape to this new policy.

Ms. Alka Singh welcomed all the participants for the meeting and expressed that she is looking for more action oriented ideas and recommendations for the new policy. She thanked all the distinguished guests and participants for being part of this meeting. She shared her personal field experience along with few prominent delegates, wherein the most marginalized expressed education as priority over food and health. The realization that education is now realized as key to better future it shouldn’t be a provision but an entitlement. She also shared some of the Save the Children’s prominent interventions over the years which have made education and learning experience more interesting for the children and have improved retention and learning levels like, building capacities of teachers to digitalize teaching content, sports for development, focus on pre-school education for both transition and retention etc., these innovative approaches at various levels and in different states has brought in indelible impact on the quality of life of the community Save the Children works for.


NPE & Child Rights Perspective

Ms. Santha Sinha, Former Chairperson, NCPCR

Ms. Shantha Sinha, opined that each one in the meeting hall is representing half million and it’s a power house to raise any voice. He urged that all should raise their voice in whatever form to change everything in the new policy which is put up at the website. The new policy doesn’t have any preamble and an overall frame work. Its direction less and needs amendments. In her view

Education not given priority: Education is only way to bring about equality and democratic stature. Education supersedes all the welfare schemes like food, land, shelter, pension etc., Thus, government should given upmost priority to education.

The policy differentiates levels of education: Policy should clearly state its responsibility towards holistic education. State has to take full responsibility to provide education from KG to Research. Since, they are interdependent for fulfillment of comprehensive education.

Privatization of Education: Education is made look into a commodity, privatization has packaged education commercially. Private players have very important role in improving the quality of education, however, should be under the guidelines of the government. Private education should have a lateral entry.

Importance of open/distance education: Government should take immediate steps to given importance of open education has this is the only way they can bring in maximum coverage. Though the existing system prevails, the quality and the importance for distance education are lacking.

Universalizsation of Education: Education should be universalized until the age of 18 years. Presently on every act on children is comprised. One needs to talk about change in the laws pertaining to child labour, child marriage, trafficking to take affirmative action.

Skill Development: Skill Development is given for name sake, not given in a proper systematic manner to enable the children to get into to professional courses. There is need to provide skills on how to get into professional courses, there should be an inter link between vocational and academic skills.

Teachers are blamed: Teachers are as good as the system is, they are the least persons to be held responsible for non performance. They are many cadres above them, the policy makers and other persons related to education should be accountable rather than only teachers. In our country education is lost since teachers are involved in Election duty and all other government related duties very frequently. Other departments should be involved rather than only teachers, because it effects the children education directly.


NPE & Quality concerns:

Dr Sanjeev Rai, National Thematic Manager-Education, Save the Children

Mr. Narayana, National President, School Teacher Federation of India

Digitalization: There is no clarity in digitalization, though it is very important should be used in an appropriate manner. Rs. 20000 crores worth of computers are kept in the school, now these computers are ideally station at schools. Usage of computers and digitalization of education should follow an organic process, focusing on improving the standards of education rather than for marketing.

She urged the group to come up with strong and progressive recommendations for the new education policy and extended her full support to advocate for the cause.

Dr Sanjeev Rai spoke extensively about the quality of the policy, his major concern was on the allocation of resources. He was very critical about the government’s spending on various other segments rather than education. He stated that they are 59 million children who are going to the school and 2.5 million has gone out of school from 2010 to 2015 indicating the lack of commitment from various governments. Most of the countries are spending more on defence rather than education. He opined that if spending could be increased on education and all the citizens are educated than that will surely contribute towards the reduction of conflicts. He stated that Government is claiming that children have improved access. However, there is no clarity on what access really mean, since, it is linked to resources. Unless government allocates adequate resources to education quality can be expected. For instance, CESS was set up to be part of education, the irony is that now it controls education. Dr. Sanjeev Rai’s major concern with the education policy are:

Reduction in the allocation of resources Multilingual Education – 3 language pooling Reduction on ICDS Budget effecting the pre primary education For functioning of each school, one needs to coordinate with 15-20 departments.

A Single window needs to be introduced. Vocational Education is given of least priority Role clarity for the teachers.

He firmly urged the concerned to spend more on books than on guns, since, schools are important for wisdom.


NPE & Budget allocations: Dr Niranjan Aradhya, Member, Centre for Child and the Law,

National Law University of India & Former Member, SCPCR, Karnataka

NPE & Budget allocations: Dr Niranjan, Member, Centre for Child and the Law, National Law University of India &Former Member, SCPCR, Karnataka

Mr. Narayana representing the teacher’s community has been very vocal and critical on the new education policy, he alleged that Government is having hidden agenda behind this policy, they categorically raised few questions to the government.

Why the policy is proposed On what objective it is proposed Budgetary implications are on mentioned Document is not accessible to all

He stated that the new policy is not talking on the core issues of improving the quality of education, equality, Quantity or all the children. The policy only increases the void created between government set up and private set up. He informed that on their behalf they were very unhappy with the government and its policies and demanded immediate rectification of education policy. He also demanded allocation of more funds to the education. New Education policy is neglecting poor children and creating gap between haves and have not’s.

Dr. Niranjan endorsed all the views expressed by earlier speakers and mentioned that content, directions, process need to understand the parameters of government thoughts for proper engagement. He quoted a statement “The destiny of the nation is shaped in the class rooms” from Indian Education Commission Report 1964. He raised few pertinent questions, like:

Why we need a policy Primary Budget Reduced Right to Education

He stated that overall Central Government is making the exercise with a deliberate attempt to open the system of education to the market and also to involve big corporate in the management of schools. It lacks vision, fails to buid the very foundation of such debate on the core values of Constitution like Equality, Social justice and equity. He urged that there is an urgent need to raise the following questions and debate on the same in the context of formulating new education policy, as follows:

What should be the foundation of building a national system of education based on the principles of neighbourhood common school system to ensure equitable quality education to all children?

How do we address the ongoing privatization, commercialization and commodification as against recognizing education as a social good?

How can the system of education help to build a more humanitarian and egalitarian society based on the core values of the Constitution ensuring social justice to all its citizens?


NPE & MGML:

Dr Y.A. Padmanabha Rao, Director, Rishi Valley, Krishna Murthy Foundation India

Ms. Nitin Kumar, Save the Children

Experience Sharing

Mr. Laxam Rao, Former MLC (teachers)

What kind of content needs to be taught in schools to promote religious harmony national integrity and unity amongst all its citizens in the context of pluralism, multi-linguist, multi-religious and multi-culturalism?

How best can the system of education contribute to ensure social, economic and political justice to all its citizens and also to build a socialist, secular, democratic, sovereign republic as envisaged from the Constitution which was the product of freedom struggle reflecting the aspirations of the nation?

How do we use education as tool for larger social transformation instead of equating it to learning 3Rs; Reading, writing and numeracy.

Dr. Padmanabha Rao have explicitly expressed that the policy is targeting teachers exclusively. The capacities meant for the teachers are not reaching thus far, trainings from DPEP, SSA not reaching all the teachers. He opinions on education system are:

Teachers are not equipped adequately handle the diversity of the students. Blossoming of private B.Ed colleges providing poor quality trainings No collaboration between higher and secondary education Data is collected through CCM, however, the data if not utilized at all He also narrated example of Wynd district of Kerala, wherein teachers from a

local block have developed their own curriculum with local context. After completion of syllabus it was noticed that there is 18% variance from the state syllabus.

He suggested to bring in more local culture, materials, flora and flok to make education enjoyable and adaptable

Teachers should be empowered to that magnitude DIET needs to be adequately supported by NCERT NCERT or DIET should have at 10 model schools to showcase quality education,

because seeing is learning. DIET and Teachers associations should be with same understanding Teachers should be less aggressive and give equal importance to all the students

within the class.

Mr. Laxman shared his experiences with the state education system during his tenure and teacher and later as Member of Legislative Council. He raised 7 major concerns, they are:


Comments and recommendations from the participants

Open Forum

Mid Day Meals: He is utterly unhappy with ISKCON taking over the mid day meal programme, since the centralized supplying has affected the local employment and now they are 300 members who lost the job. Moreover, ISKCON supplied food without egg (they being pure vegetarians), effecting the nutritional values of the children.

Digitalisation: He informed that in Andhra Pradesh they have given 11 computers for each school along with a Power generator. However, none of these computers are in use as of now. The operations and maintenance was given to APTECH, NIIT etc now there contract expired and they are not visiting. Earlier they hired local person and through the used to maintain the computer lab, it is the different case now. There is no permanent teacher for computers. He suggested let the computer lessons be part of the syllabus and carry a weight age in the examinations.

SMC: Not effective, driven by caste system and local dynamics B.Ed Colleges and Training facilities: They are 100 colleges offering B.Ed courses,

most of them are on paper only. There is no regulation to control the number or to streamline the colleges.

Lack of commitment from the youth to be teachers: Most of the youth are aspiring the job of teacher just for job security and higher pay rather than mere commitment towards teaching.

CCE: Though it is good system, teachers need time to adopt and acquaint themselves with the system.

Lack of Political Will: No political will on part of Government.

Mr. Murali Mohan requested the participants to share their views on the policy and overall education system. The excerpts of sharing are:

Mr. Venkateshwara Rao, President AP Teachers Union:He stated that the new education policy should be kept outside and alleged that there is an hidden agenda behind

this policy. Few aspects he covered are:

48% of education is in the hands of private education

Since 20 years SSA has spent crores without any accountability

In Andhra Pradesh primary education lost quality and value

AP Govt. is planning to close schools and remove teachers


If 1 class room 1 teacher is implemented then there would be requirement of 15000 additional teachers

1986 and the new education policy – both these policies are framed by political parties and leaders – he demanded that teachers, experts, independent commissions should be part of framing.

Mr.Silveri Srishailam, President, Parents Union, AAP:Mr. Srishailam very explicitly expressed his opinion on the policy and the motive behind its framing. He very well narrated the perspective of the common man, political parties and human rights. His remarks were:

Mr. Atul Kothari who is involved in framing this policy is a close associate of Sangh Parivar. Thus, the influence is visible in the policy.

During meeting of Bharthiya Siksha Niti Ayog, they have taken a decision to teach Madhura Dharma Sastra as part of education.

Not even 2% of the RtE is implemented, why the government is going for another policy

This policy is against the common minimum policy AAP is providing 25% of fund for education, health and other peoples welfare – in

the line of Grama Swaraj on Gandhian ideology Education system is not a private limited company, it should be informative,

reformative, socialized policy

Thus, he demanded for revamping of the entire new education policy

Mr. Ganta Mohan, Teacher:He remarked that Gandhian philosophy was ‘Simple life style – high thinking’ the currently it is ‘low level thinking – high profile living’. He stated that the parents thinking is very stereotyped, they objective of the parents is make their children either a doctor, software engineer, IIT etc., no one thinks that they want to make their child a noble citizen.

Mr. Syed Afizullah, RtE Forum, Karnataka:He stated that SMCs are in effective if only SMC is strengthened then children would be brought back to school. He informed that if other people are involved in SMCs then they would become a caste dominated committee. Urdu schools have no up gradation, no progression for Urdu medium students. Thus there is a huge void for certain section

Mr. Murthy, State Convenor, RtE Forum, Tamil Nadu:He stated that this policy should be challenged and a new policy should be developed and given to government.

Mr. Venkat Reddy, Representative from MV Foundation:He categorically aired his opinions and remarks, asking the group to think on these lines

Firstly the group should come to a common consensus of what should go into the policy

Need to explore what is the strength of this? How to lobby national media and other influencers, how to garner the support of the citizens


We need alternative document – which should be percolated to village/Panchayat level.

Can we collectively demand model schools like the Kendriya Vidayala’s.

Mr. Subhash, GROSS, Nalgonda :He shared his opinions on policy and education system in general:

Policy doesn’t talk about equality of education Most of the boys are sent to model schools, only girls are sent to local government

schools Teachers are preferring postings in urban center None of the teachers are sending their own children to government schools Need to strength SMCs Most of these policies are effecting the poor people

Mr. Srinivas, CACL, AP State Convenor:He stated that this policy is targeting teachers, adherence of RTE and quality education is lacking, no mention of SMCs etc., thus need to work on these aspects and recommend appropriate changes in the policy

Mr. Laxmi Prasana, APSA, Bangalore:He wanted the policy to be reviewed thoroughly, then develop an action plan and put pressure on government through Gram Panchayats and peoples institutions.

Mr. Pandiyan, RtE Forum, Core Committee Member:He stated that it is not right policy it is rightest policy, he committed that they are going to organize village, mandal, state and national level meetings to pressurize government to review the policy

Ms. Bhanuka, REEDS, Ananthapur:She requested the government to relook at the policy and consider the following aspects into it:

Review all the previous policies, acts and reports and incorporate them into the new one

Policy should explicitly stated about girl child, health and hygiene at schools and this should be prioritize.

In corporate aspects on how to address vulnerability issues

Mr. Nagesh, Save the Children:He informed the group that:

NPE also focuses on ICT and digitalization NCF 2005 spoke about class room quality Digital learning is catching popularity among the students and parents. He also informed that government has set template to seek the opinions of each of

the theme. And he has taken responsibility to develop a standard template to capture all the opinions.

Mr. Laxman Rao, President, SVK:He expressed that already RtE is not been implementing comprehensively and situation of education is in a precarious situation at ground level, now with the new policy Government has not recommended any major changes to improve


Road Map for inputs into New Policy

M. Sreedhar, National Advocacy & Policy Manager, Save the Children

the situation. The challenges like rationalization, misusing of teachers, capacities of SMC, utilization of data, equality, lack of monitoring by teachers etc., are not dealt properly in the policy.

Mr. Ramesh Reddy, Mahitha:He demanded that when there is a consensus among the group that the policy is not appropriate and comprehensive, there is no need to work on this. Instead, develop another policy and post it on the website.

Ms. K.Auradha, Rainbow Foundation of India:The policy should focus on equality of children, children without adult care and residential school for children

Mr. K V Ramana, Pragathi, Tirupathi:He demanded that instead of removing the schools in the name of rationalization, the schools could be shifted nearby to SC/ST colonies. So that the attendance improves, now since it is faraway children are finding it difficult to come to schools

ISKCON community mid day meals is not preferred by children Teachers are not participating in the training providing by government

Mr. M Sreedhar, facilitated the development of road map for the illicit recommendations for the new education policy, he thanked all for the inputs provided. He informed that Rajasthan state has completely adopted PPP model on 25th of June, 2015 giving freedom to private sector to get into education, the concept of public schools to private parties is initiated in the country.

He updated the participants on the timelines of government with regard to new education policy:

Time Frame Coverage End of August, 2015 Village level September – October Block level

November – December State, Regional and National level

He reiterated that all the members need to quickly get into action and work towards a desired education policy thorough innovative modes at their respective levels. Further he seek commitment from the participants, on 3 major aspects

Kind of Documentation – All recommendations compilation How to make use of the recommendations to maximum use


What kind of activities RTE forum and its partners would be planning in South India

Moving Forward

A brief note about New Policy on Education would be developed by each of volunteers from each state.

State Volunteers from each state Tamil nadu Murthy, Amrutha Valli Karnataka Laxmi Prasanna, Desoza

Andhra Pradesh Srinivas Rao Telangana Murali Mohan

Implications of new education policy would be developed by Dr. Niranjan by 31st July, 2015

Format to capture key discussions points from the field level – to be developed by Dr. Sanjeev Rai and Mr. Nagesh from Save the Children

In coordination with RTE Forum state level CSO’s, educational experts and RTE Forum members would cover 4700 Panchayats. The state wise break up

State No. Of Panchayats to be covered Tamil nadu 200 Karnataka 500

Andhra Pradesh 2000 Telangana 2000

He urged all the participants to thoroughly read 1986 and 1992 Education policy A ready reckoner for FAQ would be developed this FAQ would help all to facilitate

the discussion at various level and will bring in uniformity in explanation. FAQ would be developed and would be shared with RTE Forum, the forum state

representatives would translate the same into their local languages.


Broad Recommendations

The southern region consultation on New Education Policy has thrown light on various aspects and nailed the loopholes in the policy itself, the participants have categorically rejected the policy and taken up the task to develop a new comprehensive education policy consisting of all the elements and in line with protecting the fundamental rights. The broad areas for reworking on the policy are mentioned below, it is an indicative list and not and exhaustive list:

Gender Inequality Targeting one segment – especially teachers ICT Language Mid Day Meal RTE Urdu no preference Value & Moral Education Privatization Differentiation in higher and secondary Vocation training Localization of education

Universalization of Education

Choice Based Credit System (CBCS)

Closing remarks and action points on behalf of RtE Forum:

Mr. Ambrish Rai, profusely thank all for their valuable inputs, especially thanked Save the Children for their resourceful help. He stated that this meeting would be a benchmark for all the other regional meetings to be held subsequently. The major take backs are:

Collate all the discussion points into National Level meeting The final submission to the MHRD would be compilation of all the recommendations

from across the country By December, 2015 new education policy would be developed in consultation All policies to be in line with the fundamental rights

Vote of thanks: Ms. M Chandana, Advocacy Coordinator, Save the Children profoundly thanked all the participants for attending the one day consultative meeting. She placed special thanks to the Chief Guests, Teachers association, National Law school, CSOs, RTE Forum members, Child Networks and all the participants for their indelible support for the cause. Especially


thanked all the facilitators for facilitating the sessions to help them come out with a concrete road map for recommendations for the education policy. She thanked team members of Save the Children for their sheer presence and background work for making it possible. She informed that the final drafted recommendations, key messages and action plans would be shared with each of them. She also thanked the members who volunteered to take part with action plans and wished that surely with collective efforts they would be achieving a desired education policy.

Press Meeting Organized on 17th July 2015 at NSS with all the news reporters and with National and State RtE Forum representatives along with Save the children Team on New Education Policy and its recommendations.

Press Clippings of the Consultation

inter state consultation (south india) on new...

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