Political Activist Aalok Pratap fighting for students against Government

Aalok Pratap

For a nation that promotes the idea of educating every child, assuring that everyone gets equal opportunities in education and similar platforms. Above all, such efforts need to be unbiased: i.e., without hindrances of religion, economic background, demography, gender and caste of students. Some changes were made in terms of educational policies. For example - The Right to Compulsory and Free Education Act 2009, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and the National Curriculum Frame (NCF) 2005. But, there are still big loopholes that are distancing the goal.

Raising this issue, in a media briefing, Activist Aalok Pratap Narayan Singh said, "One of the major loopholes is that millions of students enroll every year in different streams in the Senior Secondary Classes (11th and 12th). These are the basic foundational stages, on which future of the students are highly depends. It is the responsibility of the Government, Education Departments and Autonomous Academic Bodies to give them the Right to equal opportunity and platform in their Education. But in reality, we are far away from our ideas, policies and laws."

He added, "In 11th and 12th class, there are multiple additional subjects and it is compulsory to enroll in at least one or at some places, two additional subjects. Their marks are equally important in the final result as that of the other main subjects. But unfortunately, the study material for them is not equally available for all. Because the books of additional subjects are not published by NCERT or CBSE or even if few books of additional subjects are published by them, they are not made for mandatory adoption. Consequently different private publishers publish and sell them at different prices and the content also varies. Due to this culture, there are inequalities in opportunities among the students. This leads to differences, which on the bigger face of it, largely affect the future of underprivileged students and can also cause mental health issues to them."

Activist Aalok Pratap Narayan Singh further mentioned that he wrote multiple letters to the Chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to express his concern, asking them regarding their plans and circulars to handle this problem. But as expected, there were no replies from both ends which reflects their disinterest to tackle the issue and their collusion with the private publishers in order to generate business. To warn the CBSE, the NCERT & the Government, Pratap added that it is their final ultimatum to them; that within a few weeks, if they fail to produce a satisfactory revert and take some positive steps in this matter, he will come on the road to register their protest and also take the issue to the Honorable Court. Because he can't let the Government of India and their associates ruin the Nation's future.