Chennai, Feb 1, 2024: Thousands of students rallied in Chennai today under the banner of "United Students of India," voicing their strong opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the current government. The rally, held with the slogan "Reject NEP, Save Education. Reject BJP, Save India," saw participation from 16 student organizations across the country.
The march, flagged off by Tamil Nadu ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin (Youth Welfare & Sports Development) and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi (School Education), culminated in a public meeting where student leaders raised their concerns. VP Sanu, President of Students' Federation of India (SFI), criticized the dismantling of public education and misuse of state apparatus by the central government. G Aravindhaswamy, SFI Tamil Nadu Secretary, emphasized the need for a united student movement to defend public education and fight against the NEP.
This rally marks the second phase of protests organized by United Students of India, following their January demonstration in Delhi. A third rally is planned for Kolkata in March. Dipshita Dhar, All India Joint Secretary of SFI, reiterated the alliance's stance: "We stand against the BJP's agenda of hate and religion. We demand an agenda for students, with quality education accessible to all."
The student groups highlighted various concerns around the NEP, including:
- Increased commercialization of education: Fear of education becoming a luxury, inaccessible to underprivileged communities.
- Centralization of education system: Erosion of federalism and state autonomy in education.
- Focus on rote learning and undermining critical thinking: Concerns about stifling creativity and innovation.
- Threat to social justice and inclusion: Potential marginalization of disadvantaged groups.
The rally comes amidst ongoing debates and criticisms surrounding the NEP's implementation. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to these concerns and address the demands of student groups like United Students of India.
