The Association of private schools in Karnataka has urged writers not to interfere in academic issues and rather leave it to experts in the field of education to take a call.
This comes hours after some noted writers, under the banner of Samana Manaskara Okkoota, approached chief minister Siddaramaiah asking the newly formed government to roll back the National Education Policy 2020 and revision of state board textbooks.
A delegation of writers approached the chief minister on Monday, seeking that the NEP be scrapped. The group has submitted a memorandum to Siddaramaiah seeking reversal of several decisions taken by the BJP government.
Yet another prominent demand by the forum was the reversal of changes introduced by a textbook revision committee headed by Rohith Chakratirtha, an alleged right-wing ideologue. They have sought that should it take time to revise the content again, students must be prescribed textbooks by Baraguru Ramachandrappa, a left ideologue writer for study.
Responding to this, D Shashi Kumar, Associated Managements of Private Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) rued that such impulsive changes arising out of political pressure would lead to severe inconvenience to students.
“Soon after the new government has come to power, writers have been levying a lot of pressure on the chief minister. This is an unhealthy development. There are teachers, academicians who have spent decades, either working in the public or private sector. The opinion of such people must be considered before the chief minister or deputy chief minister takes a stand. A blanket ban on NEP or textbook revision is not something we will accept. The previous government has already created confusion. This government must take the responsibility of setting this right instead,” said Shashi Kumar.
“I am not saying NEP should not be rolled back. If it should be, what is the reasoning behind it? Authors and writers should focus on literature and other issues rather than interfere in the field of education. There are enough experts in the field who can deliberate the issue and arrive at a consensus,” he said, adding that this is a ploy by many personalities just to grab the limelight.
Also Read: Karnataka: 3 key education portfolios in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet. Here’s who got it
Posted in News, States
