NEP sets back Indian education by 100 years, claims Bengal varsity teachers' body

Two left-leaning organisations of university teachers on Wednesday opposed new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 approved by Union cabinet, and one of m claimed that it has set back education in country by at least 100 years.

Javpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) and All Bengal University Teachers' Association (ABUTA) also alleged that NEP would destroy democratic characteristics of countrys education system.

" NEP 2020 seeks to replace inclusive, democratic, progressive, idea of India by a narrow, sectarian and bigoted tion, driven by compulsion to propagate divisive ideology of a particular political party," JUTA General Secretary Partha Pratim Roy said in a statement.

"It has set back education in India by at least a century," it said.

ABUTA said NEP destroyed scientific, secular and democratic characteristics of countrys education system.

policy would be detrimental to ecomically disvantd students and destroy public-funded education system by opening sector entirely to corporates, ABUTA state committee member Goutam Maity said.

Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved new NEP and renamed HRD Ministry as Education Ministry.

A single regulator for higher education institutions, multiple entry and exit options in degree courses, discontinuation of MPhil programmes, low stakes board exams, common entrance exams for universities are among highlights of NEP.