BJP’s free education poll promise result of AAP’s groundbreaking work in education sector: Manish Sisodia

A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced free education from ‘KG to PG’ in its manifesto, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Jan 22 criticized the BJP for its "newfound interest" in education and said it was a "significant victory for the pro-education policies championed by AAP government".

"Before making grand promises about free education, BJP must present a model that demonstrates how they will fund and execute it. Unlike Kejriwal, who allocated 25% of Delhi's budget to education, BJP has shown no commitment to investing in schools or improving infrastructure. Instead, it continues to dismantle public education systems across the country," said Sisodia in a video on social media.

Claiming that the BJP closed down 30,000 schools in Uttar Pradesh and similar closures were made in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Haryana, Sisodia urged BJP to explain its strategy.

“You shut down schools, slash education budgets, and then write in your manifestos about free education,” he asked.

Questioning the BJP’s newfound interest, Sisodia remarked that the party’s long-standing opposition to quality education for all had now changed to its opposite.

“The BJP’s current rhetoric is a direct result of the groundbreaking work done by Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi,” he stated. He criticized the BJP for undermining the education sector across India by slashing budgets and closing schools in the states it governs.

In another post on X, Sisodia asked the BJP without increasing the education budget, without improving the schools, what kind of education model do you want to present?

“In Rajasthan, news has come today about the closure of 450 government schools. Will you provide free education in pvt schools?” he asked.

'Shiksha Par Baat'

In October 2024, AAP launched a new initiative to involve parents in shaping Delhi’s education policy. The program, titled "Shiksha Par Baat, Manish Sisodia Ke Saath," aims to gather feedback from parents across Delhi on the city’s education system and discuss the future direction of government schools.

In the first session, held in Patparganj, over 500 parents participated in discussions with Sisodia. The event focused on the strides made in Delhi’s public education under his leadership, including improved government school results, surpassing those of private schools for the last seven years.

Parents expressed their appreciation for initiatives such as modern school infrastructure, enhanced teacher training, and free coaching for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, and CUET.

The initiative is designed to encourage a dialogue between policymakers and the community, focusing on critical areas like technology integration, skill development for future job markets, and creating an inclusive, equitable education system.