Nearly 1 Lakh Public Schools Closed Post-NEP 2020, Says Manik Sarkar at VIT Chennai

Nearly one lakh public schools have closed down across the country since the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, former Chief Minister of Tripura Manik Sarkar said at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) in Chennai on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

Delivering his acceptance speech after receiving the Era. Sezhiyan Award conferred by the Navalar-Sezhiyan Trust at the VIT Chennai campus, Mr. Sarkar noted that while public schools were shutting down, private institutions were mushrooming, leaving students from lower economic strata with diminished opportunities to pursue education. He pointed out that a similar trend was visible in the healthcare sector, where private capital has expanded while public investment has shrunk.

Emphasising that improvements in health and education are mutually dependent, Mr. Sarkar stated that healthcare services are among the core obligations that the government must fully shoulder. He maintained that large sections of the population remain dependent on government hospitals, even as authorities seek to reduce state liability and facilitate private investment.

Citing a 2025 NITI Aayog report, Mr. Sarkar noted that unemployed graduates accounted for 13% of the total population in India, while the unemployment rate among youth who completed secondary education stood between 29% and 40%. He highlighted the agency's observation regarding a significant gap between educated youth and suitable employment opportunities, questioning how the country could progress if such a workforce remains unutilised.

Speaking at the event, G. Viswanathan, Founder and Chancellor of VIT, emphasised that education significantly boosts individual per capita income. He noted that VIT has supported approximately 1,200 rural students with free education and job placements. For batches graduating between 2008 and 2021, the average income of these students rose from ₹8,600 during their studies to ₹1.10 lakh once employed. Mr. Viswanathan urged both Union and State governments to allocate more funds to education to help middle-class and low-income families access higher studies.

Former Tamil Nadu Minister and Member of Parliament V.V. Swaminathan, who received the Dr. Navalar award, recounted his collegiate association with Navalar Nedunchezhiyan, Era Sezhiyan, and K. Anbazhagan, which led to the creation of the Rationalist Youth Forum. Former Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and VIT Vice President G.V. Selvam also addressed the gathering.