Jamshedpur |
State Education Minister Ramdas Soren faced student protests in Jamshedpur on Monday regarding the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) in Jharkhand. The students, currently enrolled in 12th grade in various inter colleges across the city, opposed the government’s decision to shift intermediate education (Class 11–12) from colleges to schools.
The protest took place after the Education Minister attended a Student Felicitation Ceremony organized by the District Education Department at Michael John Auditorium in Bistupur. As soon as the program concluded and the minister stepped outside, a group of 12th-grade students gathered to submit a memorandum of demands.
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The students argued that their academic session would end in 2025, while the NEP’s complete implementation timeline extends until 2026. Hence, transferring them to schools midway would be unfair, unnecessary, and disruptive to their academic progress.
According to the protesting students, they have already adapted to their current colleges, and shifting them to a new academic environment could hamper their studies and preparations for university entrance. They strongly demanded that students of the ongoing session be allowed to complete their education in the current institution.
Minister Ramdas Soren accepted the memorandum and assured the students that their concerns would be discussed with the concerned officials and a practical solution would be found soon.
The students, however, warned that if their demands are not met promptly, they would be forced to stage a massive protest at the District Education Office in the coming days.
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Notably, the Jharkhand government has been gradually implementing the NEP-2020, which includes transitioning Classes 11 and 12 to senior secondary schools instead of inter colleges. While the move is aimed at streamlining academic structures, students claim the shift is being done hastily and without considering the impact on current batches.