With the panel formed to advise the HRD ministry on the New Education Policy submitting its report on Friday, a number of key recommendations forwarded by it are coming to light. Among the major recommendations put forward are a no detention policy upto class 5th instead of the current class 8th, introduction of an all new curriculum framework which would take the place of 2005 NCF (National Curriculum Framework). Also, the committee has suggested the HRD ministry to devise a benchmark for the various coaching institutes running across the nation.
Headed by T S R Subramanian, an ex Cabinet Secretary to the Union Government, the committee recommends placing highly ethical content in the textbooks so that the students' character is also built in the school. As opposed to the present 10 year revision, the committee recommends that the curriculum must be revised after every 5 years.
A source was quoted saying, "School education has to be reformed and in general terms institutional autonomy has to go together with high-level accountability,"
The HRD ministry would discuss all these recommendations with all the state before putting forward its proposals to the central cabinet. The committee says that elementary teaching must only be in the mother tongue of the student for a better grasp and understanding. About the no detention policy, a source close to the committee said, "No-detention has taken away interest in teaching and quality has suffered in a big way. Right to Education Act should be amended to take away the provision of no-detention till class VIII,"
The committee has also proposed to offer suitable rewards to the states that are performing well on the various parameters. Teachers who have done unparalleled work in the field of research must also be rewarded.
A source close to the committee also added, "In the last more than six decades, massive investments have been made in education but there has been a big question on quality. So far the tendency has been to make big-bang announcements without carrying out reform at ground level. Grading system will help government to find out why some schools are doing better and what intervention will be needed by the government. We are also serious about IES,"