|

March 02, 2021

India: Scientists slam Ministry of Education for handing to RSS body Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal (BSM) job of creating awareness on National Education Policy (NEP)

 The Times of India

Scientists slam tasking RSS body to create NEP awareness

TNN | Mar 2, 2021, 06.18 AM IST

MUMBAI: A circular issued by the ministry of education asking universities and premier research institutions to participate in webinars/seminars organised by the Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal (BSM) to create awareness on the National Education Policy (NEP) has met with opposition from the scientific community.

Scientists have alleged that an important task like disseminating information on the NEP has been assigned to an RSSlinked non-governmental agency. They have also opposed the inclusion of the organisation, which does not have any academic standing, in the education sub-group of the Niti Aayog Standing Committee.
The MoE, in its directive, requested institutions to participate voluntarily in the exercise. In a letter to the MoE, which has been forwarded to all institutions, the BSM mentioned that they have been entrusted (by Niti Aayog) with a task of connecting with educators and institutions to conduct nation-wide awareness and orientation programmes.

The Breakthrough Science Society has asked the Centre to reverse the decision of entrusting NEP implementation task to extra-constitutional agencies. “We are shocked to learn that the task, which is supposed to be shouldered by government agencies with the help of eminent educationists, has been delegated to a private organisation,” it said. Dhrubajyoti Mukhopadhyay, president of BSS, said there are apprehensions on whether the NEP is a ploy to introduce Hindutva ideology in the education system. “Throughout the policy, we see references of the education system in the ancient Hindu era. Now, they intend to implement the NEP and saffronise the education system with the help of BSM,” he said.

Source URL: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/scientists-slam-tasking-rss-body-to-create-nep-awareness/articleshow/81284847.cms