Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, June 14: Manmohan Singh today reviewed bottlenecks in setting up an education commission he had announced two years ago and asked HRD minister M.M. Pallam Raju to expedite the process.

The Prime Minister also enquired about the four-year undergraduate programme being started by Delhi University from the upcoming session.

However, the focus of the meeting was on the commission, yet to be constituted since being announced on Independence Day 2011 for improvement in education at all levels.

“The Prime Minister gave some guidance. I have already held two rounds of discussions. We have almost decided the contours and terms of reference of the commission. We will try to set it up soon,” Raju said after the meeting.

Previous HRD minister Kapil Sibal has almost decided the panel’s terms of reference and its members, but was shifted before the Prime Minister’s Office approved the commission.

After Raju took over, he started the process afresh. Andre Beteille was tipped to head the panel earlier but is now learnt to have indicated he isn’t interested after Raju tried to include some new names, sources said.

The last education policy was formulated in 1986 and modified in 1992. Experts have stressed the need for periodic reviews. “I think the education policy should be examined every 10 years. It would be even better if the government sets up a standing commission,” said academic Madhav Menon.

Former University Grants Commission secretary R.K. Chauhan said education policy should identify new focus areas. “Vocational education has not witnessed much expansion. That must change.”