TSR Subramanian Committee Recommendations on Education

In 2015, Narendra Modi Government had set up a committee under former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian to chalk out a new education policy. This committee had submitted its report in May, 2016.

Key Recommendations

The committee had presented its report in two volumes with around 90 suggestions. For unknown reasons, the report was not made public for many days by then HRD minister Smriti Irani. Baffled TSR Subramanian himself released some of the highlights. The key recommendations are as follows:

• Government should establish Indian Education Service (IES) as an all Indian service with officers on permanent settlement with state governments, but cadre controlling authority vested in HRD Ministry.
• Education has been given comparatively low priority by both the Central and State governments, judged by the budgetary support provided thus far. This must change if anything of significant value is to be achieved. Without further wait, the outlay on education should be raised to at least 6% of the GDP.
• There should be a minimum eligibility condition {50% marks at graduation level} for entry to B.Ed courses. Teacher Entrance Test (TET) should be made compulsory for recruitment of all teachers. The centre and states should jointly lay down norms and standards for TET.
• Government should made compulsory licensing or certification mandatory for teachers in government and private schools, with a provision for renewal every 10 years based on independent external testing.
• Pre-school education for children in the age group of 4-5 years should be declared as right {by amendment into RTE} and a programme for it should be implemented immediately.
• The no-detention policy should be continued till class V. At the upper primary level, the system of detention must be restored subject to provision of remedial coaching and at least two extra chances being offered to student to prove his / her capability to move to a higher class.
• The Government should introduce On-demand board exams for flexibility and reducing the stress of students and parents.
• Since malnutrition and anaemia continue to be high among adolescents, the government should extend the mid-day meal (MDM) programme to secondary schools.
• UGC must be made thinner and leaner and UGC Act must be allowed to repeal. A separate law for management of higher education should be created.
• Government should allow top 200 foreign universities to open campuses across India and give the same degree which is acceptable in the home country of the said university.
• Minority schools should be made to reserve 25% seats for candidates of economically weaker sections (EWS).
• There should be restrictions on Campus politics.

The committee also criticized the governments for too much interference in important appointments, particularly in case of Vice-Chancellors.

Important Past Committees in Education

Radhakrishnan commission (1948-49): The commission dealt with higher education and the report of the commission focused on the expansion and improvement of higher education.

Mudaliyar commission (1952): The commission dealt with secondary education.

Kothari commission (1964-66): The definitive action on education policy was taken only after this commission’s report as after the previous two commissions no comprehensive policy was formulated by the government. Based on the report of the commission, Education Policy of 1968 was formulated. The commission’s mandate was to advise the government for the development of education at all stage and in all aspects.

Conclusion

The committee has been bold in identifying the crisis in education and bringing to the fore a host of issues. It virtually touched all the weak points of moribund education sector such as low financial allocation, over-centralization, low investment in teacher’s education and development etc. The report has made drastic reform recommendations in current bodies related to education including UGC, AICTE, NUEPA, NCTE, NCERT etc.