Proposals for a fresh education policy draft being developed

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan District Officer P Nagraj said Public Instruction Department in the district was finalising recommendations for the draft of new education policy for the year 2015.  He added nodal officials had been appointed for primary process and a system to finalise the draft was being worked out.

The Human Resource Ministry has issued guidelines for education department, however, opinions will be collected from grass root level. Gram panchayats too have been contacted for soliciting public opinion, he said adding that 13 questions were formulated in the detailed questionnaire.  the officer said amendments were last made in 1992 and there were no amendments to the education policies.

He went on to say that  Human Resource Ministry had informed State Education Minister and Primary Education Department. The Higher Primary Education Secretary has held high-level meeting, he said adding gram panchayat-level meetings were held besides online meetings were also organised. The recommendations have been incorporated into MyGOv.in web portal.  The recommendations made in the State-level meetings will be sent to HR Ministry to draft final policies.

The 13 issues incorporated are impact of primary education, extension of primary and pre-university education, strengthening of professional courses, reformation in examination process, training for teachers to impart quality teaching, improvement and effective measures to be incorporated in adult education and distance education.  Augmentation of involvement of females, SC/ST, minorities in the education process especially in rural areas, introduction of information and technology into the adult education and in schools, introduction of new effective measures into the education, evaluation of quality of education, language development, integrated education, children health are other issues that will be involved in the new draft policy.

The discussion meetings are held under the leadership of DDPI at district-level, Block Education Officer at block-level and headmaster at school-level, he added.