‘Ideas Welcome’: New Minister Javadekar Promises Education Roadmap

New Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar has promised a roadmap for education after “getting a brief” from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The process, he said, would involve consultations with “everybody.” That includes his high-profile predecessor Smriti Irani, who was moved out of the key ministry on Monday as part of a mega Cabinet reshuffle by PM Modi.

Mr Javadekar invited ideas and suggestions, saying he would “consult everybody, my doors are open to all,” and added, “I will build upon good initiatives taken up by Smriti Irani and will consult with her.”

“Education is not a subject of party politics, it is an issue of everybody,” said the new education minister whose party the ruling BJP has been accused of trying to “saffronise education,” by setting a right-wing agenda through syllabus and textbooks in schools and colleges.

He said he saw education as “an emancipator, a real change agent” and emphasised the need to “revolutionise our education,” improving its quality and making it more meaningful. The Prime Minister he said had a vision for education that he would tap in scripting his roadmap.

Mr Javadekar, who was the environment minister, was promoted to cabinet rank on Monday morning in an indication that he was being readied for a more high-profile assignment. The announcement later in the evening that he would replace Ms Irani became the headline of PM Modi’s big reshuffle, which also saw several other important ministries change hands.