Delhi University’s Sanskrit department and the RSS-backed Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas (SSUN) will be holding a seminar on November 24 to discuss the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry’s ‘New Education Policy-2015’.

The seminar, whose final report will be sent to HRD minister Smriti Irani, will also have educationist Dinanath Batra delivering the keynote lecture on changes required in education.

“The status of education in Bharat is highly fragmented. It is limited to providing degrees to students and has also lost its research essence. Education has no outreach to the poor. It has also failed to spread our cultural heritage in the country and across the globe. There is an immediate need for educational reform,” said Batra in a three-page letter that details suggestions to improve the education scenario.

The suggestions include tweaking of teachers’ training curriculum to introduce concepts such as patriotism, health conservation, social consciousness, spiritualism, moral science, value-based education, vedic maths; establishment of Bhartiya Education Services, and inclusion of subjects such as ancient and modern knowledge, science, physical education, yoga and character building.

He also suggested a five-year integrated course for training teachers, with a compulsory one-year social service in rural areas or slums. The teaching methodology, he said, should be based on the “Upanishad method of dialogue” in order to encourage interactive classroom sessions.

However, he stressed on keeping politics out of education and recommended setting up an autonomous education commission.

“Children should not suffer because of change in government. The Education Commission will supervise, manage and evaluate primary and higher education, and research,” he said.

The 32-page agenda for the seminar will also discuss the HRD Ministry’s 20-point consultation framework for the new education policy.

“It is essential to meaningfully define education through integration of yoga, humanities, science, technology, skill development, art and creativity…,” said Batra.

The session will feature both Batra and Atul Kothari, while the concluding session will be chaired by Kapil Kapoor (former Pro-VC of JNU).

“We want to try and highlight Batra’s philosophy on education. The decision to organise the seminar was taken five months ago, when we were approached by the SSUN…,” said Ramesh Bharadwaj, head of the Sanskrit department.

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