CABE to meet on July 18 to discuss new education policy

The newly-reconstituted Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the highest advisory body on education in the country, is expected to meet on July 18, the main agenda of which could be deliberation on the new education policy and consideration of a report on no-detention policy up to class VIII.

Officials in the HRD Ministry said the states have been asked to give their suggestions before the finalisation of the agenda report, the last date for which is July 8.

The focus would, however, be on the new education policy and the states’ participation, as for the first time views of stakeholders from across the spectrum are being taken, they said.

All the reports of the sub-committee prepared by the previous body of CABE would also be taken up for consideration.

These include a sub-committee report prepared under the then Haryana education minister Geeta Bukkal about no-detention policy and its impact on learning outcome in classes.

While the report has favoured doing away the policy introduced under RTE which entails automatic class promotion, the ministry has remained silent on the issue so far, stating that CABE would take it for consideration.

While some states have already removed the provision, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is learnt to have requested HRD minister Smriti Irani earlier this week for the removal of the policy.

CABE was reconstituted on June 11, with 19 nominated members from different fields, apart from ex-officio members, various union ministers and vice-chancellors of different universities.

Anirban Ganguly, director of Shyama Prasad Mookherjee Research Foundation, a BJP outfit, and actress Swarup Sampat, wife of BJP MP from Ahmedabad (East) Paresh Rawal are notable nominated members in the body, which is headed by Irani.

The 19 nominated members also include Swami Atma priyananda, vice-chancellor of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur Math.

Besides, CABE comprises heads of some central institutes such as vice-chancellor of Central University of Gujarat Syed A Bari and vice-chancellor of Uttarakhand University Jawahar Kaul, considered close to the HRD minister.