Punjab CM pleads with Centre on Higher Education Bill
Chandigarh, June 20
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has opposed the proposed 'Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhiniyam Bill - 2025', warning that the legislation could make higher education more expensive, weaken opportunities for students from ordinary families and diminish the ability of states to address local educational needs.
In a letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, CM Mann urged the Centre to reconsider the Bill and hold wider consultations before implementing reforms that could significantly alter the higher education landscape.
Emphasising that crores of parents across the country pin their hopes and dreams on their children's education, CM Mann said higher education must remain a pathway of opportunity for the child of a farmer, labourer or shopkeeper, not become a burden on families.
He asserted that India's progress depends on making higher education more accessible, affordable and inclusive by investing more in universities, infrastructure, faculty and research, rather than measures that could increase costs and centralise decision-making.
In the missive, CM Mann said he was writing not merely as the Chief Minister of Punjab but also as a representative of crores of parents across India, whose greatest hopes are tied to the education of their children.
"Every family wants its child to receive quality education, stand on his or her own feet, secure dignified employment and contribute to the progress of the nation. That is why education is not merely an administrative subject; it is a question concerning India's bright future," he wrote.
The Chief Minister said he initially hoped the proposed legislation would strengthen the quality, accountability and global competitiveness of higher educational institutions. However, after carefully studying the Bill, he expressed serious concerns that it seeks to centralise the most important decisions in higher education, with far-reaching consequences for students, teachers, universities, and state governments.
Raising his major concern, CM Mann said the Bill appears to focus more on centralisation of power than on improving educational quality.
"The success of an education system depends upon how effectively it understands the needs of students, teachers and local communities. In a country as vast and diverse as India, every state faces different social, economic and educational challenges," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a student from a farming family in Punjab, I can say Mann ji has hit the nail on the head. Higher education fees are already sky-high, if this Bill passes, my parents will have to sell land to pay for my degree. We need affordable options, not more centralisation.
Honestly, I support the Centre's idea of standardising education, but the Bill needs more consultation. PM Modi's NEP was good in vision, but implementing it top-down without state input will fail. Mann's letter is a valid critique, hope Delhi listens 🤞
I'm a professor in a government college in Punjab, and I've seen how local needs are ignored in one-size-fits-all policies. 🏫 Our students need courses in agriculture, dairy farming, and entrepreneurship, but if Delhi controls everything, they'll focus on generic subjects. Mann ji ka letter bahut sahi hai.
The Education Minister should take this seriously. India's diversity means one policy can't fit all. In Tamil Nadu, we have different challenges than Punjab. But having said that, some coordination is needed for national standards. The Bill should be a framework, not a dictate. Balance is key.
Mann sahab is spot on about the farmer's child! I'm a first-generation graduate from a village in Haryana, and it was tough. If this Bill increases costs, kids like me will never get a chance. The Centre should focus on scholarships and infrastructure, not control. 👨🎓👍
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