AIDSO opposes STEAM initiative, calls it ‘backdoor implementation’ of National Education Policy 2020

AIDSO argues STEAM initiative prioritizes vocational skills over core academic subjects

The Mysuru district committee of the All India Democratic Students Organization (AIDSO) has opposed the State government’s introduction of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) model in the Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), alleging that it is a backdoor implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

In his statement, AIDSO regional secretary Nithin said that vocational training has been made compulsory for students from class 6 onwards for skill development. He alleged that the government’s order envisages the curriculum to be designed in partnership with industry stakeholders and mirrors the provisions of NEP-2020, which, according to the organisation, has already been rejected by the people of the state.

The organization argued that greater emphasis on vocational education would weaken core subjects such as native language, mathematics, science and social sciences, which it said were essential for the intellectual and general development of students.

Quoting physicist Albert Einstein, AIDSO stated that education should encourage independent thinking rather than focusing solely on vocational skills. He also referred to Swami Vivekananda’s view that education is a process of character building and assimilation of ideas, and claimed that the government’s approach had deviated from these principles.

The organization claimed the policy would weaken critical thinking and reduce education to skills training. He demanded that the state government withdraw its STEAM initiative and called on students, parents and educators to oppose what he described as an attempt to dilute public education.