The Congress on Tuesday held a meeting with Chief Ministers and Education Ministers of its ruling states to discuss education reforms and changes in the examination system. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi led the meeting, which was also attended by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior leaders.
The meeting focused on ways in which Congress-ruled states could develop their own education models and prepare action plans based on consultations with education experts, students and other stakeholders.
Education Reform Plans To Be Prepared Within One Month
According to Congress general secretary K C Venugopal, the Chief Ministers will organise state-level education seminars with educationists, academic experts, student organisations and other stakeholders.
According to the Congress, the campaign has been organised to raise concerns around examination irregularities, paper leaks, cancelled or delayed examinations and the rising cost of education. The party has also been holding interactions with students as part of the campaign. The latest meeting links these student-focused discussions with the education reform plans being considered by Congress-ruled states.
Congress Raises Concerns Over RSS Role In Education
The meeting also included discussion on what Congress described as the RSS’s influence in the education sector. Venugopal said the party wants Congress-ruled states to examine what it described as attempts to influence education policy and institutions.
The Congress has alleged that RSS-backed appointments and initiatives could influence the education system. These are political claims made by the party and were presented as part of its concerns during the meeting.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on consultations at the state level. Chief Ministers are expected to work with education experts and other stakeholders before preparing their respective action plans.
The proposed national seminar will then look at how these plans can be taken forward. The development comes amid a wider political discussion over education policy, examination reforms, student concerns and the role of states in shaping their education systems.
The Congress has also previously called for greater involvement of state governments in education policy. Its 2024 manifesto said the party would revisit the National Education Policy in consultation with state governments if it came to power.
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