2-day students' conference to discuss key edu issues
The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) announced the 10th All India Students' Conference at Talkatora Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from November 27 to 29.
At a press conference held here on Friday, AIDSO leaders highlighted the key issues the conference will address, including opposition to the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, a call for jobs for all and a demand to end atrocities on women.
“The conference is not just a gathering; it’s a movement to save the culture, humanity and public education of our country,” said Sourav Ghosh, general secretary of AIDSO.
"We are here to resist the NEP-2020, which reintroduces the four-year undergraduate programme, a policy that we believe will commercialise education and push it out of the reach of the common people."
The press conference also saw strong criticism of the recent UGC-NEET and NET examination "scams", with speakers alleging that these institutions, along with the government, were more interested in profit-making than in serving the educational needs of the public. “When private interests are given a free hand in education, the common man is left out,” said the panelists. “Education should not be a commodity. The government must take full responsibility for funding education from the primary to the highest level."
The three-day conference is expected to be a major event, with representatives from all states and Union Territories across India coming to the Capital. AIDSO has dedicated the event to the memory of various historical figures, including Shaheed Udham Singh, Birsa Munda, Alluri Seetharam Raju and Kanaklata Baruah.
The conference has garnered support from over 100 prominent personalities, including academics, activists and public figures. Notable supporters include Dr Gauhar Raza, Prof Sachidananda Sinha, Prof Arun Kumar, Prof Nandita Narain, and advocate Vijay Singh. The reception committee, led by Prof Dibyendu Maiti, president of the reception committee and Professor at the Delhi School of Economics, is preparing to welcome the delegates.
