Slamming the “hasty attempts” at reforming the school examination system and higher education in the country, the NDA on Wednesday said states had not been consulted on the proposed reforms and that there was a great deal of opposition to moves like one common board for the entire country.

“Suggestions made by Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal are controversial and require discussion. The NDA is not against reforms in education, but is opposed to reforms which are without any roadmap, or any direction. If the government brings a practical proposal to remove the shortcomings in education, the NDA will have a creative approach to them,” said former Union HRD minister and BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi after a meeting.

Education ministers of Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh were present while representatives of Bihar, Karnataka and Gujarat sent in written communications. NDA convenor Sharad Yadav and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj were also present.

Chhattisgarh Education Minister Hem Chandra Yadav said after the meeting that three broad themes that came up for discussion that were the proposal of a “Higher Education Commission to replace the UGC”; “doing away with Board examinations”; and “having one common Board for the country”. “We have not received any official document from the Central Government on the suggestions made by the HRD Minister. We will have next meeting and response after we receive the Union minister’s proposals,” Yadav said.

Joshi added that real changes should begin at the primary education level and should be spread over two decades, but added that the opinion of educationists, vice-chancellors and student unions should also be sought.

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