Mumbai : After facing a lot of flak, the state education department on Wednesday withdrew the draft proposal that it was supposed to send to the Union Human Resource Ministry for the formation of National Education Policy.
The state government had made a draft of suggestions and objections for the new education policy, however, the draft was criticised as ‘unconstitutional’, ‘non-scientific’ and not in the interest of the students.
Earlier this month, a private committee comprising education officials, headmasters, education and education experts made a draft of the proposal to send to the Union government.
The draft proposal had suggested increasing the duration of schools from six hours a day to eight hours. It had also reportedly suggested stopping the education facilities and schemes given to the socially and economically backward class students. Further, it had suggested that primary education should be in mother tongue (Marathi).
There was lot of criticism over this proposal as it was said to violate the basic principles of the Constitution, which says the medium of instruction is liberty of the individual and no state or central government can force particular language on an individual. A local legislator had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him to intervene in the matter.
Speaking to Free Press Journal, Principal Secretary (Education) Nand Kumar said: “The draft proposal which was supposed to be sent to the Union government for education policy formation is withdrawn from the official website of the state government.”
He justified that the said proposal was made by education experts and headmasters and had nothing to do with state government. “The said draft of proposals is not the opinion of the state,” he said, adding that the state government will make a new draft proposal and again invite suggestions and objections to the new draft.
After considering these inputs, the state would send the final draft to the Centre, he said.
