SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Socialists’ challenge to the lackeys of corporate houses
Merchants of Education Quit Power
“The standard of education is declining; consequently, the Government of India and educationists have raised the call for ‘chhanti bharti’ [meaning only a select few students should be granted entry into colleges and universities.] … Therefore, there must be a vigorous demand for the opening of new universities and colleges; every student should have the right to pursue the education of their choice after passing the requisite examinations; there should be absolutely no discrimination based on whether one passed in the second or third division; and education should be affordable. Fees in schools and colleges should be reduced -or, if possible, eliminated entirely.” Dr. Rammanohar Lohia
Who are the merchants of education?
The Congress party, which, by implementing the market economy in 1991, paved the way for the privatization, commercialization, and globalization of education – contrary to the spirit of the Constitution;
The BJP/RSS, which strengthened and accelerated the process of privatization, commercialization, and globalization of education by constituting a committee led by two major industrialists – Kumar Mangalam Birla and Mukesh Ambani. The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 represents a giant leap in that direction;
All political parties within the NDA and UPA coalitions that have been involved in this entire process;
Business persons – both small and big – engaged in a race for profiteering in the education market, aided by political patronage and convenience;
Those ‘philanthropists’ who run the business of education under the guise of providing world-class schooling and higher education in private institutions;
Dignitaries holding high constitutional offices who participate in events organized by private universities;
The country’s educationists, teachers, and intellectuals who, while serving on UGC or government committees, have collaborated with governments to execute this unconstitutional agenda;
Scholarly teachers who built their own careers in public colleges and universities yet work for private and foreign universities and sing their praises;
Individuals from the NGO world who accept domestic and foreign grants, positions, and awards in the name of piecemeal educational reforms, while upholding the market-driven character and economy of education. Such individuals play a significant role in suppressing and derailing the struggle for education base on the constitutional values of equality, democracy and secularism.
Our conviction:
The framers of the Constitution – particularly Dr. Ambedkar – wished to place the right to education among the Fundamental Rights in Part 3 of the Constitution. Instead, it was placed in Part 4 under the Directive Principles of State Policy, with the resolve that the goal of the right to education in independent India should be achieved quickly – specifically, within ten years. However, this constitutional resolve was never fulfilled. On the contrary, India’s political and intellectual elite enacted laws contrary to this resolve, effectively surrendering education to the forces of market. This entire process must be reversed.
To achieve this:
All laws enacted during the neoliberal era that contravene the Constitution must be repealed to facilitate the immediate restoration and strengthening of a constitutional education system;
The State must assume responsibility for providing equal and high-quality education to all – from the primary level up to postgraduate studies;
The State must ensure that every student in the country has easy access to admission in their preferred subjects or courses;
All schools, colleges, and universities established through government grants (such as subsidized land, loans, etc.) must be brought under public sector;
Current education has been reduced to merely producing skilled labour for the existing capitalist market system. The communalization of education is fostering narrow-mindedness, superstition, and irrationality in society. This anti-educational situation must be ended; the content and language of education across disciplines – such as science, commerce, sociology, economics, humanities, arts, technology, medicine, management etc. – should be designed to cultivate rational citizens capable of making original contributions in their respective fields;
In essence, the market-character of education/knowledge, as well as the economy itself, must be transformed to the people-oriented character and economy of education.
Submitting a memorandum of the aforementioned demands to a government that fosters corporate interests and communalism – under the corporate politics that has taken deep root in the country – would be a futile exercise. Public awakening is the only way forward. As Professor Anil Sadgopal has stated, the struggling masses of the country must integrate the fight for the right to education into their broader struggles for water, forests, land, and livelihoods. This pamphlet is a memorandum presented at country’s Jan Panchayat.
On the historic occasion of ‘Quit India Movement Day’ (August 9), we appeal to all progressive organizations, groups, and individuals fighting for the constitutional rights of the Indian people to take up the cause of ending the privatization, commercialization, and globalization of education.
The Youth Socialist Initiative believes that to shatter the neo-imperialist grip on India’s national life, it is essential, first and foremost, to liberate education from the chains of servitude.
All are cordially invited
Venue: Jantar Mantar | Date: August 9 | Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Do not forget the martyrs of August Revolution
Youth Socialist Initiative
11 – Rajpur Road, New Delhi 110054
Contact:
Dr. Hiranya Himkar (9716668206),
Bandana Pandey (8384086320),
Niraj (9911970162)
