Govt Turns Education into Profit-Making Venture, Claims TMC MP Saugata Roy

During a debate on the Union education ministry's grant demands in the Lok Sabha, TMC MP Saugata Roy criticised the government for commercialising education. He highlighted the absence of world-class institutions in India, questioning why there were no centres comparable to Harvard, Cambridge, or Yale. Roy warned that brain drain would persist unless educational standards improved.

Roy stressed that the current budget allocation of 2.7% of GDP for education was inadequate for enhancing academic quality. He pointed out that 8.96 lakh Indian students were pursuing education abroad, indicating a significant issue with domestic educational standards. "Education in India has dwindled to a point where it has become a place to make money," he remarked.

Concerns Over Rising Education Costs

CPI ML-Liberation MP Sudama Prasad criticised the rising cost of education and claimed that schools for poor and Dalit students had been closed due to alleged space constraints. He demanded the cancellation of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) due to paper leaks and called for scrapping the National Testing Agency for its failure to conduct exams properly.

Prasad urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to take moral responsibility for the paper leaks and resign. He emphasised the need for accountability in ensuring fair and transparent examination processes.

Government's Defence and Opposition's Critique

Defending the government, BJP MP Anil Firojiya stated, "Our 2,000-year-old education system was ruined by the British but Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped restore it." He accused Congress of failing to strengthen the education system during its tenure.

Congress MP Priyanka Satish Jarkiholi raised concerns about exam paper leaks in 15 states and questioned the government's efforts to make education accessible for rural populations. She highlighted the need for robust measures to prevent such incidents and ensure equal educational opportunities.

Financial Issues and Infrastructure Needs

AAP MP Manvendra Singh Kang urged the government to address financial issues at Panjab University and expedite fund releases for schemes like PM POSHAN and PM SHRI. He advocated for central government support in covering competitive exam preparation costs, referencing the deaths of three civil services aspirants in Delhi.

BJP MP Bharti Parthi requested that the progress seen under Modi's leadership be extended to her constituency, Balaghat. She emphasised the need for continued development and support in educational initiatives.

Gender Gap and Marginalised Communities

Shiv Sena UBT MP Anil Desai highlighted the necessity of bridging the gender gap in education and improving basic facilities in Maharashtra schools. He pointed out alarming dropout rates due to a lack of essential services like drinking water.

Samajwadi Party MP Afzal Ansari criticised the government for insufficient budget allocations for marginalised communities' education. He noted that provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were reduced despite increased support needs.

The debate underscored various challenges facing India's education system, from financial constraints to infrastructure deficiencies. MPs from different parties voiced their concerns, calling for comprehensive reforms to ensure equitable access to quality education across all regions and communities.