14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a comprehensive framework to transform the Indian education system and make it more inclusive, equitable, and quality-oriented. The NEP aims to achieve universal access to education, promote multidisciplinary and flexible learning, enhance teacher education and professional development, foster research and innovation, and strengthen governance and leadership in the education sector.
However, not all States and Union Territories (UTs) have shown their willingness to implement the NEP and avail the benefits of the Centre’s flagship scheme for State-run higher education institutions, Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA). PM-USHA is the new name for the scheme that was earlier known as Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). PM-USHA provides an outlay of ₹12,926.10 crore between 2023-24 and 2025-26 to improve the quality of higher education in State Universities through curricular and programme changes, teacher training, physical and digital infrastructure, accreditation, and enhancing employability, while ensuring equity, access, and inclusion.
As of now, 14 States and UTs have not signed a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Education Ministry, which mandates the implementation of the NEP in order to avail funds under PM-USHA. These States and UTs are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep.
According to University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, who is also co-vice chairperson of PM-USHA’s National Mission Authority, the MoU is being signed to show the willingness of States and UTs to participate in the PM-USHA scheme and it will help in the better implementation of the scheme¹. He said that discussions are in progress with the 14 remaining States and UTs to iron out differences and communicate the importance of NEP and PM-USHA¹. He also said that the scheme has scope to adapt to the differing needs of different States, and even different districts¹.
The MoU makes it mandatory for States to undertake the administrative, academic, accreditation, and governance reforms detailed in the NEP, such as an academic credit bank, entry and exit flexibility, and the Samarth e-governance platform. However, some State governments have raised concerns about the MoU, given that 40% of the PM-USHA budget must be borne by the States themselves, and no extra funds have been earmarked for NEP reforms¹.
Some Opposition-ruled States have also accused the Centre of imposing its agenda on them through the NEP and PM-USHA. For instance, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty said that the State government is not in favour of signing the MoU as it would compromise its autonomy in education². He also said that Kerala has already implemented many of the NEP recommendations through its own initiatives². Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said that his government will not implement any policy that is against the interests of the State³. He also said that Tamil Nadu will continue to follow its existing two-language policy instead of the three-language formula proposed by the NEP³.
On the other hand, some States have welcomed the NEP and PM-USHA as an opportunity to improve their education system. For example, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that his government is committed to implement the NEP in letter and spirit⁴. He also said that Uttar Pradesh will become a role model for other States in implementing the NEP⁴. Likewise, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that his government has taken several steps to implement the NEP in a time-bound manner⁵. He also said that Gujarat will become a hub of education and innovation under the NEP⁵.
The NEP and PM-USHA are ambitious initiatives to reform and revitalize the Indian education system. However, their success depends on the cooperation and coordination between the Centre and the States. It remains to be seen how the 14 States and UTs that have not signed the MoU will respond to the Centre’s appeal and whether they will join hands with it to implement the NEP and PM-USHA for the benefit of their students and teachers.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 8/16/2023
(1) 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme. https://www.thehindu.com/education/14-states-yet-to-sign-mou-with-centre-needed-to-avail-higher-education-funds/article67191204.ece.
(2) Morning Digest | Manipur officials told to quit social media groups, 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme; and more. https://www.thehindu.com/news/morning-digest-august-14-2023/article67191805.ece.
(3) 14 States And UTs Yet To Sign MoU For Implementation Of National Education Policy. https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/14-states-and-uts-yet-to-sign-mou-for-implementation-of-national-education-policy.
(4) 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme - inkl. https://bing.com/search?q=14+States+yet+to+join+Centre%e2%80%99s+flagship+education+scheme.
(5) 14 States yet to join education scheme - jatinverma.org. https://www.jatinverma.org/14-states-yet-to-join-education-scheme.
# 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is a comprehensive framework to transform the Indian education system and make it more inclusive, equitable, and quality-oriented. The NEP aims to achieve universal access to education, promote multidisciplinary and flexible learning, enhance teacher education and professional development, foster research and innovation, and strengthen governance and leadership in the education sector.
However, not all States and Union Territories (UTs) have shown their willingness to implement the NEP and avail the benefits of the Centre’s flagship scheme for State-run higher education institutions, Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA). PM-USHA is the new name for the scheme that was earlier known as Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). PM-USHA provides an outlay of ₹12,926.10 crore between 2023-24 and 2025-26 to improve the quality of higher education in State Universities through curricular and programme changes, teacher training, physical and digital infrastructure, accreditation, and enhancing employability, while ensuring equity, access, and inclusion.
As of now, 14 States and UTs have not signed a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Education Ministry, which mandates the implementation of the NEP in order to avail funds under PM-USHA. These States and UTs are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry, and Lakshadweep.
According to University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, who is also co-vice chairperson of PM-USHA’s National Mission Authority, the MoU is being signed to show the willingness of States and UTs to participate in the PM-USHA scheme and it will help in the better implementation of the scheme¹. He said that discussions are in progress with the 14 remaining States and UTs to iron out differences and communicate the importance of NEP and PM-USHA¹. He also said that the scheme has scope to adapt to the differing needs of different States, and even different districts¹.
The MoU makes it mandatory for States to undertake the administrative, academic, accreditation, and governance reforms detailed in the NEP, such as an academic credit bank, entry and exit flexibility, and the Samarth e-governance platform. However, some State governments have raised concerns about the MoU, given that 40% of the PM-USHA budget must be borne by the States themselves, and no extra funds have been earmarked for NEP reforms¹.
Some Opposition-ruled States have also accused the Centre of imposing its agenda on them through the NEP and PM-USHA. For instance, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty said that the State government is not in favour of signing the MoU as it would compromise its autonomy in education². He also said that Kerala has already implemented many of the NEP recommendations through its own initiatives². Similarly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said that his government will not implement any policy that is against the interests of the State³. He also said that Tamil Nadu will continue to follow its existing two-language policy instead of the three-language formula proposed by the NEP³.
On the other hand, some States have welcomed the NEP and PM-USHA as an opportunity to improve their education system. For example, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that his government is committed to implement the NEP in letter and spirit⁴. He also said that Uttar Pradesh will become a role model for other States in implementing the NEP⁴. Likewise, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that his government has taken several steps to implement the NEP in a time-bound manner⁵. He also said that Gujarat will become a hub of education and innovation under the NEP⁵.
The NEP and PM-USHA are ambitious initiatives to reform and revitalize the Indian education system. However, their success depends on the cooperation and coordination between the Centre and the States. It remains to be seen how the 14 States and UTs that have not signed the MoU will respond to the Centre’s appeal and whether they will join hands with it to implement the NEP and PM-USHA for the benefit of their students and teachers.
Source:
(1) 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme. https://www.thehindu.com/education/14-states-yet-to-sign-mou-with-centre-needed-to-avail-higher-education-funds/article67191204.ece.
(2) Morning Digest | Manipur officials told to quit social media groups, 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme; and more. https://www.thehindu.com/news/morning-digest-august-14-2023/article67191805.ece.
(3) 14 States And UTs Yet To Sign MoU For Implementation Of National Education Policy. https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/14-states-and-uts-yet-to-sign-mou-for-implementation-of-national-education-policy.
(4) 14 States yet to join Centre’s flagship education scheme - inkl. https://bing.com/search?q=14+States+yet+to+join+Centre%e2%80%99s+flagship+education+scheme.
(5) 14 States yet to join education scheme - jatinverma.org. https://www.jatinverma.org/14-states-yet-to-join-education-scheme.
