Resource persons and leaders during the inaugural program of the national seminar held at Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema on April 21.
Kohima, April 21 (MExN): The Inaugural National Seminar Program on “India Social Transformation 2.0 and National Education Policy (NEP) 2020” was held at Nagaland University, Kohima Campus, Meriema on 21st April.
The two-day seminar is sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research and organized by the Department of Teacher Education (DTE), University of Nagaland, Kohima Campus, Meriema, a DIPR report said.
NEP Committee Member and Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University of Horticulture and Forestry, Chattisgarh, Prof. Ram Shankar Kureel while delivering the keynote address outlined the vision of NEP 2020.
He mentioned that the NEP aims to establish an education system that contributes to an equitable and vibrant knowledge society by providing high quality education to all, developing a sense of respect for fundamental rights, duties and constitutional values, etc., and by instilling skills, values and dispositions that support a responsible commitment to human rights, sustainable development and living, and global well-being.
The key principles
Professor Kureel said the key principles of NEP 2020 are – respect for diversity and local context in all curricula, pedagogies and policies; equity and inclusion as a cornerstone of all educational decisions; encouraging and facilitating philanthropic, private and community participation; use of technology in teaching and learning; removing language barriers for Divyang students and in educational planning and management; emphasize conceptual understanding rather than rote learning; recognize and identify the unique abilities of each student; encourage logical decision-making and innovation; and ongoing review based on sustained research and regular evaluation by education experts.
The Director of the Department of Higher Education, Government of Nagaland, Dr Katoni Jakhalu, said: “Whether we are ready or not, we are on the threshold of tremendous change, especially in the education sector. Highlighting higher education in the state, she said a task force has been formed to make a recommendation for the implementation of the policy.
She said to raise awareness, seminars and workshops have been held online and offline and attempts have been made to publicize the NEP 2020 guidelines in different local Naga languages, but so far only Tenyidie finished the translated version.
Key areas and agenda
Regarding the key areas and agenda on equity in the NEP 2020, Dr. Katoni said that the state is well balanced on gender parity; in higher education, enrollment of female students in the past two years is higher than that of their male counterparts.
She said that so far, out of 69 NU-affiliated colleges, 40% are NAAC accredited. She said it is state policy to establish at least one government college in each district, tuition is subsidized and appropriate facilities, smart classrooms and digital libraries are provided to ensure that no one is excluded from digital learning and technology, but with the creation of five new districts, she said the task ahead is a challenge.
She maintained that huge gaps and confusing challenges are ahead but as long as there is dialogue and exchange of ideas, the state’s education sector will progress with the rest of India. .
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nagaland, Prof. AK Mishra said that for the social transformation of the country, equal opportunities must be ensured for which education is fundamental. He added that teachers have an important role to play in the successful implementation of the NEP 2020 policy.
Dean, School of Humanities & Education, NU, Professor Buno Zetsuvi said that NEP 2020 envisions great social change by transforming the education system, however, she expressed concern that ‘India being a country diversified, it will not be possible to provide a relevant, perfect policy, acceptable and adapted to the whole country.
The professor added that flexibility and adjustments without disrupting the main objective of the policy are needed.