AIDSO argues that the STEAM initiative prioritises vocational skills over essential academic subjects

The Mysuru district committee of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) has opposed the State government’s introduction of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) model in Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), alleging that 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 in the name of skill development. He alleged that the government’s order envisions designing the curriculum in partnership with industry stakeholders, reflecting the provisions of NEP-2020, which, according to the organisation, has already been rejected by the people of the State.

The organisation argued that a greater emphasis on vocational education would undermine foundational subjects such as the mother tongue, mathematics, science, and social sciences, which it stated are essential for students’ intellectual and overall development.

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

The organisation alleged that the policy would weaken critical thinking and reduce education to 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.