Coalition govt. at Centre may not impact NEP implementation, educators say

The National Education Policy (NEP) introduced several key initiatives, among which Multidisciplinary Higher Education Institutions emerged as a significant highlight. (Illustration by Suneesh Kalarickal)

Despite the recent transition to a coalition government at the Centre, the  prevailing sentiment among educational stakeholders suggests that institutions that have already embarked on implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 are unlikely to veer off course.

Furthermore, for those institutions grappling to meet the NEP's standards since its inception, the prospect of policy amendments may seem inconsequential, educators say.

Yet, there exists a nuanced anticipation of how a coalition government might influence the educational landscape. Educators envision a scenario where such a government could introduce additional avenues for incorporating local languages and cultures into the curriculum.

According to Dr Jaskiran Arora, Dean of Education Quality at BML Munjal University, while NEP provides a vision for the country’s education system, it is not something the central government can impose on the states.

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However, he said under a coalition government, the dynamics can become slightly more complex. “States governed by coalition partners who are part of the central government might align more closely with the NEP, while opposition-ruled states may continue to push back or demand modifications to suit their local contexts better,” Arora told Moneycontrol.

Nevertheless, he said the presence of a coalition government is unlikely to change this scenario drastically but might necessitate more dialogue and collaboration to ensure effective implementation.

In January, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that “almost all” states are implementing the National Education Policy 2020. He said that even the states that seem reluctant are indeed implementing the policy although they are using different terminology.

Dr Sanjay Patro, Dean of Academics at XLRI said that under a coalition government, there may be increased negotiations between the central and state governments, leading to more tailored labour law implementations that address state-specific needs and concerns.

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Anticipated changes?

With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) requiring support from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Janata Dal United JD(U) for a third term at the Centre, educators say certain demands can emerge.

The NEP 2020 introduced several key initiatives, among which Multidisciplinary Higher Education Institutions emerged as a significant highlight. This ambitious endeavour aimed to transform higher education by fostering interdisciplinary learning environments, where students could explore diverse fields of study and acquire versatile skill sets.

However, educators say the establishment of such institutions entails substantial investments in physical infrastructure and the recruitment of a substantial pool of qualified faculty members.

“The coalition government may look at the feasibility of examining how these investments are prioritised based on the current situation of the education facilities. They may consider improving the resources for current educational institutions rather than adding new ones,” said Dr Netra Neelam, Director of Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD ), Pune.

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She further said that the coalition government now may insist on giving flexibility to educational institutes on certain aspects such as in introducing the 4-year UG programme rather than making it a mandate.

Another aspect of NEP 2020 that may face hurdles in its implementation is the formalisation of education in the regional language in fostering holistic development and cultural understanding. Teaching up to class five in the mother tongue or regional language and lowering the stakes of board exams are part of the sweeping reforms in the NEP.

“The Three-state language formula may not be accepted by everyone due to a lack of adequate educational material being available in the regional language. Moreover, some may look at insisting on the English language as an important medium of instruction which has the potential to foster collaborations in later stages of education,” she added.

“Language policies often become contentious in coalition governments due to regional linguistic diversity. Parties from different states may push for policies that favour their regional languages over a standardised national approach,” said Dr Parul Saxena, Associate Professor, at Sharda School of Business Studies at Sharda University.