EDUCATION

Education is a merit good and must be available to all children as a public good. Congress promises that State and Central Governments shall be responsible for providing educational opportunities to all children. Schools, colleges and universities shall be, mostly, public institutions funded through public resources. Private educational institutions may supplement public educational institutions.

  1. Congress will propose that School Education be transferred to the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution while retaining the subject of Higher Education in the Union List.
  2. Congress promises that school education from Class I to Class XII in public schools shall be compulsory and free. Suitable amendments will be made in the Right to Education Act, 2009. We will end the practice of charging special fees for different purposes in public schools.
  3. We are deeply concerned about the quality of education and poor learning outcomes as reported in the Annual Survey of Education Report (ASER). Congress promises to attach the highest importance to learning outcomes.
  4. The teacher is the pivot around whom the entire system of education revolves. Teacher training and the continuing education of teachers are the key to quality instruction. Congress promises to increase the capacity, number and quality of Teacher Training Institutes set up by the government. Regulation of Teacher Training Institutes will be the responsibility of the National Council for Teacher Education and their funding will be the responsibility of the University Grants Commission or its successor. A scheme for the periodic and continuing education of teachers will be implemented and teachers will be required to mandatorily participate in the scheme.
  5. Congress promises to double the allocation for Education to 6 per cent of GDP in the 5 years ending 2023-24. A path forward will be laid down in the regular Budget for 2019-20 and specific annual targets will be set.
  6. The Right to Education Act brought to the fore critical deficiencies in the school systems across the country. In States where the Act was implemented well, many of these deficiencies were rectified. But much remains to be done, especially in the educationally backward districts of the States. Congress promises increased expenditure to provide basic and adequate infrastructure in every school from Class I to Class XII that will include classrooms, library, laboratory, playground, toilets, drinking water, etc. Hostels will be constructed based on demand.
  7. Congress promises to increase the number of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodya Vidyalayas based on demand and with the co-operation of the State Governments.
  8. It is a matter of grave concern that children drop out of school. We promise to arrest this trend and ensure that every child completes 12 years of school education.
  9. In order to ensure a uniform quality of education and to improve learning outcomes, Congress promises to employ technology-enabled teaching methods and technology-driven, personalised and adaptive learning tools in all schools.
  10. Most children stop with school education. In order to make children ready for employment or self-employment, Congress promises to introduce vocational training as a compulsory component of school education in Classes IX to XII.
  11. Congress will support the establishment of special schools for children with special needs.
  12. India needs more Universities. Congress promises to establish more public universities in the country, especially in under-served areas.
  13. We promise to restore the autonomy of colleges and universities
  14. We will entrust the Regulation, Grading and Funding of colleges and universities to separate organisations. We will provide The University Grants Commission or its successor with sufficient funds to make liberal grants to colleges and universities, based on need and merit.
  15. We promise to take suitable measures to include Guest, Temporary and Contract Teachers in the regular establishment of Universities so that they receive the benefits due to them.
  16. We promise to restore the 200-point roster system for appointments to central universities and other central institutes of higher learning.
  17. Congress deeply respects teachers and will ensure that serving teachers are represented in the governing bodies of colleges and universities.
  18. Congress promises to establish more Institutes of Higher Learning in subjects such as medicine, engineering, commerce, management and pure sciences.
  19. We will increase the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in Higher Education from the current level of 25.8 to the level of at least 40 in a period of 5 years.
  20. The NEET examination is discriminatory against students from certain States. In addition, it interferes with the State Government’s right to admit students domiciled in the State to government medical colleges in that State. Hence, we will take measures to dispense with the NEET examination and substitute it with a State-level examination of equivalent standard, approved by the competent authority for admission to government medical colleges in that State. 
  21. Colleges and Universities will be encouraged to award Deprivation Points to students seeking admission based on gender, permanent residence in rural districts, first generation learner, etc. and to admit such students to ensure diversity in the classroom.
  22. College and University education must be funded in multiple ways. We promise to increase the amount earmarked for grants to colleges and universities.
  23. Congress promises to increase the number of scholarships offered to students. Colleges and universities will be encouraged to build endowment funds to support deserving poor students.
  24. We will revive, redesign and expand the Education Loan programme. Applications will be received, examined and sanctioned on a single portal and then assigned to the branch of a bank located near the applicant’s residence or place of study for documentation and monitoring. No interest will be charged during the period of study and until the student finds a job or earns through self-employment. Outstanding interest dues on old education loans as on 31 March 2019 will be waived.
  25. Congress will pass a Students Rights Bill to codify the rights and obligations of students in colleges and universities.
  • KAAM

    Employment And Growth

  • DAAM

    An Economy That
    Works For All

  • SHAAN

    Pride In Our Hard
    And Soft Power

  • SAMMAN

    A Life Of
    Dignity For All

  • SUSHASAN

    Governance, Transparency And Accountability

  • SWABHIMAAN

    Self Esteem For
    The Deprived