Sukanta Chaudhuri writes: Education plan for disbanded Agniveers is alarmingly vague

News: Recently, the government of India introduced a new recruitment scheme for the armed forces, Agnipath.

What are the educational benefits provided to Agniveers?

Two major plans have been mooted.

First, those joining after Class X can proceed to a Class XII certificate through the National Institute of Open Schooling.

Second, a special three-year degree programme was mooted by the University Grants Commission jointly with the Indira Gandhi National Open University.

What are the concerns associated with educational support?

Disbanded Agniveers will require training for whatever work they take up subsequently.

Content of the programme: The most beneficial plan for Agniveers would be to focus on mainstream general education: Languages, mathematics, natural and social sciences, alongside practical skills like computation and accountancy. But the educational programme does not mention anything about the content.

For instance, the only degrees mentioned in the press release are B.A. (various streams) and B.Com. (One wonders about Agriculture, one of the listed subjects.). This completely neglects the basic sciences or technology degrees.

Challenges with the manner in which degree is provided: The new National Educational Policy prescribes an open-ended four-year undergraduate programme. The first three years’ courses are multifarious, not a scattered or diffused one. After three years, the student can exit with a Bachelor’s degree; after four, with a “multidisciplinary” Bachelor’s degree, or one “with research”. Further, the UGC’s latest announcement declares that a four-year Bachelor’s course is sufficient training for doctoral research, including “multidisciplinary” research.

These models are further diluted for Agniveers by reserving 50% of the credits from the “skill training received by Agniveers during their tenure in the defence establishments.”

There are a few questions associated with that. Such as,

-How this will enhance Agniveers skills in a civilian education system to degree level?

-How does the six-month in-service training be mechanically converted to credits for the notionally separate three-year course?

All this turns the degree into an undemanding formality. That would be a poor tribute to Agniveers abilities and motivation, and poor provision for their future.

Source: The post is based on the article “Sukanta Chaudhuri writes: Education plan for disbanded Agniveers is alarmingly vague” published in the “Indian Express” on 22^nd June 2022.