Mysore/Mysuru: The Seminar on National Educational Policy (NEP), organised by Gandhi Vichara Parishat, Mysuru, at Vijnana Bhavan in Manasagangothri yesterday, saw speakers severely opposing the NEP announced by the Union Government recently.

University of Mysore (UoM) Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Hemantha Kumar, who spoke after inaugurating the seminar, said that Mahatma Gandhi always favoured imparting education in mother tongue. 

Pointing out that Gandhi advocated three themes of education — Education for Life, Life is Education and Education Throughout Life, he said that the Father of the Nation always stood for imparting education to all citizens of the country. 

He wanted the seminar to have an open discussion on the new NEP.

Writer Shivasundar who spoke on the topic ‘NEP –  Neo-Libralism,’ said that the NEP is a 66-page document and the word ‘Skill’ has found mention 53 times. Claiming that the Policy has remained silent on issues such as eradication of caste system and promotion of secularism, he observed that the second terms of Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi have been disastrous for the country.

Maintaining that the NEP is more theoretical than practical, he said that the phrases in the NEP seems to have no  meaning at all.

Stating that the online education market today is nearly Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, Shivasundar  alleged that NEP promotes market ideology, which is against the very principles of education. 

He called for total rejection of NEP, which he said was aimed at promoting capitalism.

Educationist Prof. Panditaradhya, who was more critical about the NEP, alleged that the NEP, approved by the Union Cabinet, is aimed at keeping students from deprived communities, out of qualitative and quantitative education. 

Claiming that the NEP pushes the country towards negative growth, he opined that the NEP is less progressive.

Senior Journalist and former Editor of  ‘Outllook’ Krishnaprasad,  who spoke on the topic ‘NEP – Privatisation,’ highlighted the plight of teachers in private schools. Pointing out that the NEP was silent on teacher issues, he underlined the dangers of complete privatisation of school education.

Former faculty of University of Mysore Dr. R. Indira, who spoke on the topic ‘NEP – Medium of education,’ said that the NEP has no clarity on the medium of instruction in higher education.

Calling for more clarity in respect of medium of instruction at all levels of education, she observed that there are several issues which the NEP needs to explain more.

Prof. Muzaffar Assadi, faculty, UoM, who spoke on ‘NEP – Politics,’ alleged that the Union Government has set out its education agenda through NEP. 

Accusing the Centre of promoting North Indian politics and culture, he alleged that the NEP was aimed at promoting Hindi above regional languages He also claimed that the NEP was more focused on promotion of Sanskrit.

MLCs K.T. Srikantegowda and Marithibbegowda were among the audience.

Senior Journalist G.P. Basavaraju, activist P. Mallesh and others were present.