'Centre's new education policy framing process not transparent'

The central government's process of formulating India's new education policy is not "transparent" and "inclusive", according to activist Ambarish Rai.

Rai, national convenor of the Right to Education Forum, a network of 10,000 grassroot organisations working in 18 states, said: "We appreciate the initiative to revamp the education policy but we do not support the way it is being done. The process is not transparent."

Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani recently said the new education policy will be formulated in consultation with the states.

While the government launched the exhaustive exercise earlier this year for holding consultations aimed at the drafting a new national education policy and invited suggestions and discussions towards that end, Rai said consultations are yet to take place.

"They want to draft it by December but where are the consultations and meetings at the ground level? The centre should consider all stakeholders and not just a few selected people. The method is not inclusive," Rai said.

Further, Rai said the terms and conditions of the new framework have not been presented clearly to the citizens.

He was speaking at a workshop on Saturday with representatives from 12 NGOs working with the youth in Kolkata demanding the implementation of RTE in West Bengal.

Organised by NGO SPAN, the 'Youth Stand for RTE - solidarity building workshop' was designed to bring in the voice of youth to raise awareness on RTE implementation in the state.