Context;
The NEET-UG exam has been marred by controversies including issues with grace marks, paper leaks, and other irregularities. The UGC-NET exam was cancelled after it was conducted, and the CSIR-NET and NEET-PG exams have been postponed.
- In light of these issues, there is ongoing debate about transferring education back to the state list.
Relevance:
GS II: Education
Dimensions of the Article:
- Status of Education– Historical Background
- Prevailing International Practices
- Arguments for ‘Education’ in the Concurrent List
- Arguments for Restoring ‘Education’ to the State List
- Way Forward
Status of Education– Historical Background
Pre-Independence:
- Government of India Act, 1935: Established a federal structure, dividing legislative subjects between the federal legislature (Union) and provinces (States).
- Provincial List: Education was categorized under the provincial list, recognizing it as an important public good.
Post-Independence:
- Continuation of 1935 Act Trends: Education remained on the State list in the distribution of powers.
- Emergency Period: The Congress party formed the Swaran Singh Committee to suggest constitutional amendments, including placing ‘education’ in the concurrent list for unified national policies.
- 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976): Shifted ‘education’ from the State list to the concurrent list without providing a detailed rationale.
Subsequent Developments:
- 44th Constitutional Amendment (1978): The Janata Party government, led by Morarji Desai, aimed to reverse changes made by the 42nd amendment. An attempt to revert education to the State list was passed in the Lok Sabha but not in the Rajya Sabha. Consequently, education remains in the concurrent list.
Prevailing International Practices
- United States: State and local governments set educational standards and standardized tests; federal oversight focuses on financial aid and key policies.
- Canada: Education is entirely managed by the provinces.
- Germany: Legislative authority over education resides with its states (Länder).
- South Africa: National departments oversee school and higher education, with provincial implementation of national policies.
Arguments for ‘Education’ in the Concurrent List
- Unified Approach: Advocates support a standardized education system across the country to enhance quality and consistency.
- Central Coordination: Seen as beneficial for aligning national goals with state-level implementation.
- Criticisms: Concerns about inefficiencies and ethical issues in state-level education management.
Arguments for Restoring ‘Education’ to the State List
- Governance Efficacy: Centralized control does not eliminate issues, as highlighted by NEET controversies.
- Autonomy for Local Needs: States can better tailor educational policies to local requirements, particularly in syllabus, testing, and professional course admissions.
- Diversity Consideration: A uniform approach is not feasible or desirable given the country’s diversity.
- Expenditure: A significant portion of educational spending is borne by states, indicating a need for discussions on moving education back to the State list.
- 2022 Report: Out of ₹6.25 lakh crore spent by education departments in 2020-21, the Centre contributed 15%, and the States 85%. Including all other departments’ spending, the Centre’s contribution is 24% and the States’ 76%.
Way Forward
- Central Oversight: Maintain central regulatory frameworks for areas like medical and technical education while allowing states policymaking autonomy.
- Productive Dialogue: Emphasize collaboration between central and state authorities to achieve balanced educational reforms and efficient resource allocation.
-Source: The Hindu
