EDUCATION-Quality over Access-Responding to the Demand of the Elite

EDUCATION Quality over Access Responding to the Demand of the Elite Krishna Kumar SOON after the Lok Sabha elections last year three persons were named for sorting out relevant ideas for the formulation of a new education policy. Initially it appeared that these three, namely P L Malhotra, Moonis Raza, and P N Srivastava, would constitute a formal advisory group. However, the role and status of the group were never precisely stated. In early April this year when the Union Education Minister replied to the debate in the Lok Sabha on his ministry's budgetary demands, he denied the existence of any committee. He said that many eminent educationists were being consulted. In addition to such consultations, he said, the recommendations of the different commissions appointed since independence could also be used for preparing a new educational policy. By the beginning of the academic session 1985-86, more specifically July 1986, the new educational policy will not only be ready but operationalised as well.