What Smriti Irani is looking at: IITs in every state, review of DU's FYUP - Times of India

NEW DELHI: HRD minister Smriti Irani has given a list of 60 priority areas to her officials and asked them to work in that direction. The list is a mix of progressive initiatives, the Sangh Parivar's ideas on education and the Gujarat model on teachers' training. During her meeting with senior officials, she asked each of them to come up with big ticket ideas.

Irani wants her ministry to give an assessment of Delhi University's four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP), look into the possibility of setting up IITs in all states as well as Yale-Pan IIT network and map the best education practices in the country. At the same time she wants ministry to see how Vedic studies can be given prominence. "How can we involve traditional vedic education? What about education for life instead of degrees?" she asked senior ministry officials.

Also, instead of directly changing NCERT school textbooks, the ministry officials have been asked to compile complaints about "textbooks and curriculum" from parents. A ministry official said, "National Curriculum Framework is changed every ten years. It is due now. First the NCF will be reviewed. Textbooks will be changed on the lines of new NCF." Irani wants ministry to take up teaching of mathematics and science in madarsas and ensure adequate steps to stop sexual abuse in schools.

Among the priority areas, Irani wants a national association of parents so that their voice is heard in all aspects of education. "Parents are the most important stakeholders but their voice is never heard. It is a good initiative," said one official. The new minister also wants to evaluate the contribution of alumni network in the growth of an institution. She also wanted reforms in legal education but since the subject is handled by law ministry it is unlikely that HRD ministry will be able to do anything. "We can build a synergy," a source said.

Irani has made it clear to officials that all ministry notes and papers should be precise with sub-heads like background, current status, challenges, stakeholders and possible solution.

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