Gujarat holds consultation on new education policy

Ahmedabad: Gujarat government here on Wednesday organised a consultation seminar on the new education policy of the country, which is being drafted by Union HRD Ministry after 29 years, at a city-based educational institute wherein suggestions of academicians were taken.

Education Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrasinh Chudasma said that no country in the world has initiated such a long process to form its education policy.

"No country in the world had done such a long process or it had shared experience from all the quarters to draft an education policy, but we will do it and Gujarat has already taken the lead in this (in form of consultation)," Chudasma said in the event held at the Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG) campus here.

He said consultation process on primary education has been conducted in around 12,304 out of 14,049 villages in the state.

Besides, consultation process on higher and technical education has been conducted in 188 out of 224 blocks and also in 19 out of 26 districts have been completed, Chudasma said.

Chudasma said the country and the state are far behind in Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in comparison with the developed countries.

"Gujarat has GER of 21 per cent, while the country has GER of 20 per cent, but if you compare it with the developed countries, then we are far behind. The GER in those developed countries would be more than 50 per cent. We need to think on this as well," Chudasma said.

"When our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making efforts to put India at a greater place amongst the developed countries and when the world is considering him as a world leader, it is our responsibility to think to better the enrollment ratio," Chudasma added.

The minister also said the government must reconsider its proposed 'No Detention Policy'.

"I insist to reconsider this act. This is Gujarat's message to the Union government. Because, if you do not fix the accountably of the teacher, then I think he will not teach properly. There must be changes in the No Detention policy," he said.