The Congress leadership on Wednesday directed the chief ministers of the four Congress-ruled states to prepare reports on necessary reforms in the education and examination systems.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held an extensive discussion on issues concerning students, youth, the education system and rising unemployment. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi urged the chief ministers of the four states to submit detailed reports within one month on reforms in the education and examination systems.
The meeting was chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge at Indira Bhavan, the Congress headquarters in New Delhi. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh and K.C. Venugopal, among other senior leaders, attended the meeting. Congress leaders from Telangana, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka also participated.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said after the meeting that the party leadership had asked the concerned states to study the existing challenges in the education and examination systems and prepare reports on reforms. The process will also focus on seeking suggestions from education experts, students and other stakeholders.
Congress said the objective of the reports is to secure the future of students and develop a better policy framework from education to employment. In his address, Kharge questioned the policies of the central government and said there was a need for a comprehensive “Education-to-Employment Roadmap” for young people.
Congress also announced the expansion of its ‘Students’ Voice’ campaign across the country. According to the party, the programme will be held in around 800 cities, and Rahul Gandhi may participate in several of these programmes.
The campaign will focus on students’ examinations, recruitment processes, employment, quality of education and other issues. According to the party, programmes have already been held in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj, while programmes will also be organised in other cities in the next phase.
The CWC meeting also expressed concern over paper leaks and irregularities related to examinations. In its resolution, Congress claimed that numerous cases of paper leaks had emerged in the country over the past decade and that this had directly affected the future of students and young people.
The party identified issues including cancellation of examinations, re-conducting of examinations and delays in recruitment processes. The resolution also expressed concern over mental distress among students and incidents of suicide and called on the government to increase accountability in the education and examination systems.
The Congress Working Committee said unemployment was affecting young people the most. According to the party’s resolution, the challenge of inadequate employment opportunities also persists for young people with higher education.
The meeting raised the issue that the education system cannot be limited to providing degrees. Congress said better coordination was needed among education, skill development, employment and the requirements of industry.
The party said creating opportunities for young people and providing employment suited to their capabilities should be a key priority in policymaking.
The CWC praised Rahul Gandhi’s efforts to consistently raise issues concerning students and young people. The party said the ‘Students’ Voice’ campaign was aimed at listening to students’ concerns in different parts of the country and raising them at the national level.
The meeting also discussed the government’s approach towards student movements. Congress emphasised the need to respect peaceful protests and voices of democratic dissent.
