AAP wants to focus on continuity instead of announcing new plans in education: Sisodia

AAP's Manish Sisodia emphasizes continuity in education policies, focusing on infrastructure, teacher training, and reducing achievement gaps in Delhi.

Former Education Minister and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Jangpura candidate Manish Sisodia said that if the party is brought back to power in the February 5 Delhi Assembly election, it will focus on continuity in education policies instead of announcing new plans.

Whether it is budget allocation, upgrading school infrastructure, or reforming teaching methods, AAP has often claimed that education is the “core of the party’s politics” and sought votes over it.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Sisodia said the party has worked on infrastructure, teacher-training programmes, and Mission Buniyaad, which aims to strengthen the foundation from the primary to elementary level and ensure that every child has access to a dignified learning setting.

“All this needs to be continued. Instead of new plans, we need to continue working on what we have already started,” the former Deputy Chief Minister said.

He said AAP has made education a narrative in elections. “Today, the election is taking place on these lines. BJP is telling people to give them responsibility for schools. The people are asking them [BJP leaders] how they could do, as it [BJP] failed to manage the police, which was its responsibility,” Mr. Sisodia alleged.

While the BJP has criticised AAP for being “unable to improve” the pass percentage, Mr. Sisodia said the AAP government aims to reduce the gap between toppers and those at the bottom. “We teach them newer skills. Reaching out to the students at the bottom of the pyramid is paramount. AAP’s model is based on working with those at the bottom,” he said.

Mr. Sisodia mentioned that there is a different model in place for underperforming students, such as the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), which offers more flexibility.