The Students Islamic Organisation of India on 13 March released students manifesto to draw the attention of leaders and political parties on students manifesto. The organisation demanded to make it a poll issue and implement it after getting elected.
Ashfaq Ahmed, president SIO, after releasing the students manifesto in the national capital, stressed on value-based quality education and demanded to review contents of all books deliberately distorted with an agenda to communalise the minds of youth which is a threat to our secular ethos and ultimately endangers peaceful coexistence.
SIO president, while replying to a question, said it is propaganda that some Muslims are supporting Modi. He clarified that Muslims are not against development but development should be inclusive and not as claimed by Modi. Ashfaq also criticised the UPA government for not implementing the recommendations of the Sachar Committee in the required manner.
Referring to the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Commission, Ashfaq said that students’ politics is the nursery of politics and elections should be allowed in campuses. He informed that students manifesto was prepared after consultations with students, youths, academicians, educationists and social activists.
The 25-point student’s charter are:
1. Moral Values and Ethical Standards should be made the part of academic curriculum; and consumption of Alcohol, Drugs and Vulgar Entertainment should be proscribed.
2. RTE Act should be implemented effectively. Strict penalties must be imposed on schools if they fail to comply with the RTE norms.
3. The existing vacancies in teachers’ posts should be filled and all the existing teachers who are working on contractual basis should be regularised.
4. Efforts should be made to create exclusive education options based on gender sensitive requirements.
5. National Curriculum Framework 2005 should be reviewed with a fundamental commitment to secular spirit.
6. ‘Commercialisation’ of education should be stopped.
7. The number of seats- intake in MBBS/MD/MS should be increased for colleges across the country.
8. There should be vigilant and monitoring mechanism established to check the status, quality and research in technical education.
9. Provide free online courseware through online web and Video courses for Medicine, Engineering, Science and humanities streams by premier institutes like AIIMS, IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities.
10. Skill development and Job assistance cells should be established in educational institutions.
11. Delhi University ‘Four Year Undergraduate Programme’ (FYUP) should be reviewed.
12. Educational institutions and Universities should start remedial coaching centres for students from deprived sections of the society, so as to make them line up with academic challenges and reforms. 13. The number of centres for UGC-NET exam should increase.
14. The number of colleges and hostels under MCDs should increase.
15. The budgetary allocation for education should be increased up to 6% of the GDP.
16. The Aligarh Muslim University should be given minority status.
17. Re-Install the Foreign Language choice in an optional paper in the UPSC Exam.
18. Implement all the recommendations of Sachar Committee and Mishra Commission reports.
19. The students seeking a higher level of education should be provided interest-free loans.
20. There should be vigilant body formed, to check “Overseas Educational Consultants”.
21. A national level institution such as the National Institute of Education should be established and should be dedicated to design sound educational policies, to carry research in shaping the qualitative and relevant curriculum.
22. Psychological counselling and Rehabilitation centres must be established in campuses. 23. Following the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Commission, the Student Politics and elections should be allowed in campuses.
24. Technical and vocational skill development centres for youth should be opened on a large scale along with the assistance for entrepreneurship.
25. The youngsters who are wrongly and illegally detained and later proved innocent should be financially compensated. A character certificate should be issued to them to continue their education and employment.
Sarwar Hasan (General Secretary), Khaleeq Ahmad (National Secretary) and Sharique Ansar (National Secretary SIO were also present during the press conference.