The State committee of Students’ Federation of India (SFI) organized a protest against the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) in Telangana. The students believe that the NEP was introduced without proper parliamentary approval and that it promotes centralization and corporatization. They argue that implementing NEP will worsen the education sector.
The SFI leaders claim that the NEP goes against the spirit of the Constitution and will eliminate the Anganwadi system in favor of foundation courses at the school level. They are also concerned about corporate interference in education, which they believe will make it exclusive. They are particularly worried about a clause in the NEP that allows students to take vocational courses and potentially increase dropout rates.
The SFI demands the immediate withdrawal of the NEP and urges the State government to pass a resolution against it in the State Assembly. They criticize the decision to establish private universities without opportunities for research, as this will lead to further privatization of education. They also express dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to fulfill promises made during the state’s bifurcation, such as the establishment of a Tribal university and an IIM. They highlight the lack of fellowships and funding for students in Telangana.
During the protest, the State president and secretary of SFI, along with other students, were arrested and detained by the police. The SFI condemns these arrests as illegal and accuses the government of hypocrisy for claiming to fight against the BJP while suppressing peaceful protests. The SFI’s State committee calls for statewide agitations to condemn these arrests.
Various SFI members, including central committee member M. Mamata and State vice-presidents Tatikonda Ravi, Santhosh Rathore, and K. Prashanth, participated in the protest.
