The Rajya Sabha today took up discussion on the Draft National Education Policy – 2016. Initiating the discussion, Sitaram Yechury of CPI (M) alleged that instead of strengthening character of secular democratic republic, the draft policy aimed at promoting centralization, commercialization and communalisation in the education. He demanded universal school education saying unless the country have it, it cannot develop properly. <br/><br/>He also said the draft policy lacks the balance among quality, quantity and equity. He expressed concern over privatisation of education. Mr. Yechury alleged that the policy has lifted the ideas of the RSS which wants to convert the study of history into study of Hindu mythology.<br/><br/>Kapil Sibal of Congress said the draft policy is not able to address the issues of access, quality and equity in the education. He also said it has no provision regarding grading of educational institutions. The discussion remained inconclusive.