Terming the new education policy as a move for commercialisation, the CPI(M) Politburo on Wednesday said that this would enhance centralisation and communalisation of the academic field. The Left party also “denounced” the move to rename the Ministry of Human Resource Development and intervention in the education sector by the centre, which is basically a state subject.

“Education is in the Concurrent List in our Constitution. It is a gross violation by the Central government to impose a New Education Policy unilaterally bypassing all the objections and opposition recorded by various state governments. A new policy of such a nature needs to be discussed in the Parliament. This was assured by the Government earlier. The draft is, as per norm, placed on the table of the Houses with a statutory time limit within which Members of Parliament can move amendments/give opinions. The Parliament has been completely bypassed,” said CPI(M) in a statement soon after the Centre has announced the new policy.

“This unilateral drive is to destroy the Indian education system with a policy that seeks greater centralisation, communalization and commercialization of Indian education. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly protests against this move by the BJP Central Government. The Polit Bureau demands that a thorough discussion in Parliament be held before implementation begins,” said CPI(M), adding that the BJP Government avoided debate with people in academic sector before introducing the new policy.