Karnataka discontinues National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in higher studies

This policy, initially put in place by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, will continue for the current academic year in order to avoid inconvenience to students in the middle of the session.

“NEP has to be abolished after making some necessary preparations. There was no time for preparations this year. By the time the election results came in and the government was formed, the academic year had already started,” HT quoted Siddaramaiah as saying.

The NEP, launched on July 29, 2020, replaced a long-standing education policy from 1986 and proposed substantial reforms spanning from school education to higher learning. BJP, which introduced the NEP, stated earlier that its implementation involved consultations with all states and stakeholders. 

“A committee headed by UR Rao was set up and consent from all states was obtained. Before implementation, a task force was formed and then it was implemented in higher and primary education,” said Basavaraj Bommai, BJP leader and former chief minister, reported HT.

Siddaramaiah noted that opposition to the NEP had been voiced by multiple stakeholders, including students, parents, lecturers, and teachers. He criticised the BJP government’s move to implement the NEP in Karnataka ahead of other states, claiming it was done without considering the best interests of students.

Also read: All you need to know about new National Education Policy: 10 points 

To ensure minimal disruption to the ongoing academic session, the NEP will continue to be in effect for the current year. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar further explained that the state government intended to develop a new education policy that reflects the state’s vision and safeguards its autonomy in educational matters.

Also read: PM Modi speaks at 3-year anniversary of NEP: ‘India a nursery of new possibilities, many countries want to open IITs’

Having been the first state to adopt the NEP for higher education in August 2021, Karnataka’s Congress party had promised its removal in its election manifesto. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had previously indicated that a state education policy (SEP) would replace the NEP.

Updated: 15 Aug 2023, 10:24 AM IST