New Delhi: Modi government's announcement of bringing in reforms to change the country's educational landscape proved to be instrumental in their victory in 2014. While the saffron party still boasts of a record-breaking success, experts believe that the actions of the government have been at divergence with the announced intentions since then.
Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, noted professor and political analyst Apoorvanand said the issue of education still continues to be of prime concern and should be prominent in the forthcoming elections.
Blaming the current government for complete destruction of education, Apoorvanand said, "Modi government promised to bring in a new education policy when they were rooted to power in 2014. Unfortunately, five years, two ministers and three committees were not able to do so."
He further accused the government of using education as means to promote Hindu ideology. He said, "BJP has damaged the federal character of Indian education and is attempting to design systems to push the Hindutva agenda, which has also been of key importance while recruiting people in key administrative bodies. This explains the appointment of RSS personnel in the higher posts."
"As per the party, the candidates whose views match with that of RSS are eligible to qualify for higher posts. The parameters of qualification, experience and knowledge find no space in BJP's regime," he added.
When asked on several vocational programs started by BJP, the professor said, "Universities and institutions are not responsible to provide jobs to students. They are only there to provide educated and qualified students who can serve their services through the opportunities available. However, the current government lays no emphasis on education and are only engaged in providing vocational training."
Later, when asked about the Congress' manifesto which promised an increased budget for education, Apoorvanand said, "Right leadership and generous budget can improve the scenario of the country's education. Universities should have complete freedom and shouldn't be bound by any body."
"If the shrinking autonomy of the public universities and punctured budget be cured, the standards of education across universities will improve," he said.
