The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) launched a nationwide “School Bachao” movement, citing a crisis in public education five years after the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 began. SFI leaders allege NEP 2020 promotes commercialisation, centralisation, and communalisation, harming students from poor and marginalised communities.
SFI leaders Srijan Bhattacharyya, Adarsh M Saji, and S Shilpa stated NEP 2020’s implementation caused large-scale school closures, declining public investment, and increased dependence on private and edtech models. They argue the policy widened access gaps, weakened democratic oversight, and shifted learning costs to students and families.
Nationwide Conclaves Against NEP 2020
The SFI central executive committee announced five major conclaves across India. These events discuss the impacts of NEP 2020.
- Kolkata: Focuses on the language formula.
- Hyderabad: Addresses edtech and exclusion.
- Delhi: Examines the “destruction of reason.”
- Chennai: Discusses uniformity versus diversity.
The fifth conclave, a students’ convention, occurred in Gwalior on December 28 . Over 200 delegates from multiple states attended, protesting public institution closures.
School Closures and Private Growth
SFI highlighted a decline in government schools and a rise in private institutions. Government schools decreased by 8 percent between 2014–15 and 2023–24. Private schools increased by nearly 15 percent in the same period.
States including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Odisha saw sharp declines in public schools. This primarily affected rural and tribal regions. SFI alleges “school mergers” push economically weaker sections out of the education system.
Infrastructure Gaps and Learning Outcomes
The student body reported severe infrastructure shortfalls. Thousands of schools lack basic facilities, including electricity, toilets, drinking water, computers, laboratories, and co-curricular facilities.
Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) findings indicate low foundational learning levels. Public education spending remains below the NEP’s own target of 6 percent of GDP.
Over 65 lakh students dropped out of school in the last five years; nearly half were girls. Schools covered under the PM Poshan (mid-day meal) scheme also declined, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. This trend risks nutrition-linked school attendance.
“School Bachao” Movement and HECI Bill Opposition
SFI launched the sustained nationwide “School Bachao” movement to defend public education. The movement aims to protect jobs of teachers and scheme workers, and build broad alliances.
The organisation also opposes the proposed Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (HECI) Bill 2025. SFI alleges the Bill would centralise and corporatise higher education. SFI called for nationwide rallies, campus protests, and public mobilisation throughout January 2026 .