India Alliance Student Organisations Lead March for Education Reforms

Student Organizations Unite for Protest on Education Policies at Jantar Mantar

Seven student-led organisations from across India have announced a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on March 24 under the banner of 'India Alliance Student Organisations.' The protest will focus on key student issues, including paper leaks, university elections, the withdrawal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft on faculty appointments and promotions.

The organisations involved are the National Students Union of India (NSUI), All India Students Association (AISA), Students Federation of India (SFI), All India Students Federation (AISF), Muslim Students Federation (MSF), Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, and Chhatra Rashtriya Janata Dal (CRJD). From March 17 to 22, student leaders will mobilise support through protests and press conferences across the country in preparation for the Delhi protest on March 24. These plans were shared during a media briefing on March 8.

In response, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the new UGC draft norms empower universities to have more control over faculty selection and promote greater development, particularly for state universities. However, opposition leaders have criticised the proposed norms, arguing that they undermine the autonomy of state governments in appointing vice-chancellors for state universities. The umbrella student body organizing the protest at Jantar Mantar on March 24 has stated that educationists, former UGC chairpersons, political leaders from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), teachers' organizations, and students will join the demonstration. Their goal is to highlight education-related issues during the budget session's second leg.

NSUI national president Varun Choudhary announced that approximately 5,000 students would participate. The demands include the withdrawal of NEP 2020 and the UGC draft regulations on faculty appointments, the restoration of free and fair student union elections, the filling of reserved seats, and the continuation of scholarships. The Union government launched the NEP 2020 on July 29, 2020, to transform India’s education system, aligning it with future needs while maintaining its roots in Indianness. Replacing the 1986 policy, the NEP recommended major changes across all education levels. The draft regulations for appointing teachers and academic staff circulated on January 6, proposed a three-member search-cum-selection committee for appointing vice-chancellors. The committee would be chaired by the governor's nominee, with two other members appointed by the UGC chairman and the university's governing body.

Meanwhile, students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were protesting on campus against the delay in student union elections. The Delhi University (DU) executive council proposed on February 27 that students elect leaders from their colleges, who would then vote to elect the four-member Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) panel. SFI Delhi state secretary Aishe Ghosh stated that the central government aimed to hijack student union elections in the same way it does with state assemblies and national-level elections. The upcoming protest at Jantar Mantar reflects the growing discontent among students over education policies and the need for reforms to address their concerns.

Editor’s Note:

The upcoming protest by seven student-led organizations at Jantar Mantar on March 24, under the banner of ‘India Alliance Student Organisations,’ highlights key student concerns like paper leaks, university elections, and issues with policies such as the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the UGC draft on faculty appointments. The student groups involved, including NSUI, AISA, SFI, AISF, MSF, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, and CRJD, are working together to rally support and hold the protest. The Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, defended the new UGC draft, while the opposition criticized it for undermining state control over vice-chancellor appointments. The protest will include educationists, former UGC chairpersons, political leaders from the INDIA alliance, teachers' organizations, and students, aiming to raise awareness of education-related issues during the budget session.

Skoobuzz acknowledges that the protest is an important call for action, focusing on key student issues such as the withdrawal of the NEP 2020, the restoration of fair student elections, and the continuation of scholarships. It highlights the students' demand for a more inclusive and equitable education system in India.