AIDSO Opposes Karnataka's STEAM Initiative as 'Backdoor NEP 2020', Calls for Withdrawal

The Mysuru district committee of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has opposed the Karnataka government's introduction of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) model in state-run schools, alleging it is a backdoor implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

In a statement, AIDSO district secretary Nithin said that vocational education has been made mandatory for students from Class 6 onwards under the guise of skill development. He claimed the government's order envisions designing the curriculum in partnership with industry stakeholders, reflecting provisions of NEP-2020, which the organisation says has been rejected by the people of Karnataka.

The organisation argued that a greater focus on vocational skills would undermine foundational subjects such as mother tongue, mathematics, science and social sciences, which it considers essential for students' intellectual and holistic development.

Citing physicist Albert Einstein, AIDSO stated that education should foster independent thinking rather than concentrate solely on vocational skills. It also quoted Swami Vivekananda's view that education is a process of character building and assimilation of ideas, alleging that the government's approach departs from these principles.

The organisation claimed the policy would weaken critical thinking and reduce education to mere skill training. It demanded that the state government withdraw the STEAM initiative and urged students, parents and educators to oppose what it described as an attempt to dilute public education.

The Karnataka government has not yet issued a response to these allegations. The STEAM model is part of the state's broader efforts to modernise school education and align with the NEP 2020, which aims to introduce vocational training early in the curriculum.