Government to set up 3rd Education Commission soon

Government of India has decided to set up third education commission soon that will recommend improvements at all levels of the education system. The commission, comprising of, 15 to 20 leading educationists will be headed by Professor Emeritus at the Delhi School of Economics Andre Beteille.

The Commission is expected to provide framework of a national policy that would address the needs and challenges of the education system in the 21st century. It is expected to re-orient the education system, as well as set out goals and parameters for an education system that addresses the changed socio-economic and technological realities.

It is to be noted that the last major policy formulation for the entire education system was undertaken in 1985, which resulted in the 1986 National Education Policy. The PV Narasimha Rao government modified the1986 National Education Policy 1986. The 1992 Plan of Action, even though it modified the 1986 policy, could not address the changes that India has gone through over the last 20 years.

Also, the commission would assess the future challenges in the school education on account of the enabling Right to Education Act, focusing on a rights based approach to school education. The Commission will look into ways of empowering teachers as well as creating and fostering a system of accountabilities. This would address issues not just of chronic teacher shortages at every level of the education sector but also about non-performance, absenteeism and training.

At the higher education level, a closer look at the university system is expected. The Commission will look into university reforms focusing on restructuring the affiliation system, and promoting autonomy.