GUWAHATI, Aug 15 - A symposium on the topic �National Education Policy (NEP) 2020� was organised by Royal Global University (RGU) here on August 13, according to a press release.
Noted educationist and Vice Chancellor of Assam University Silchar, Prof Dilip Ch Nath mentioned the destruction of the ancient Indian educational system by invaders and English becoming the lingua franca across India. With NEP 2020, the constituents will release India of invaders and set records straight in values, culture, education, etc., as the new policy envisages igniting the minds of students; conceptual learning in mother tongue; education above artificial intelligence (AI); sustainable and lifelong development; India and world-centric for best employability, he said.
Prof Nath said the success rate of NEP will be in attaining 100 per cent enrolment and training of students, utilisation of the demographic dividends through skill development, achievement of life and livelihood, increasing/encouraging teaching in double shifts (8 am-8 pm), discouraging admission on casteism but on merit and on increasing online education.
Prof Saket Kushwaha, Vice Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University Arunachal Pradesh, said that while the Systems Evaluation Protocol (SEP) model, a standardised procedure developed in relation to STEM gave power for educational achievement, NEP would touch the grassroots levels to make products employable. He vouched for a �central discovery centre� where students with zeal and will to learn could be offered facilities to discover anything.
Prof Amarjyoti Choudhury, VC of Assam Down Town University, said NEP constitutes the aspirations of academicians and �NEP is to know, to do, live together and to be�. NEP justifies its varied facets in the inter-disciplinary courses a student can avail and become apt in resolving issues faced in life/workplace and sustain oneself, he said.
According to Prof Choudhury, NEP has given options of study period, complemented by certificate, diploma or degree and re-joining too in case of discontinuation. This huge ambit in NEP would assist students to be self-reliant. He also said that NEP would encourage economically disadvantaged students to study in one go or in phases.
Prof Mridul Hazarika, VC of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, spoke on the pragmatic Indian heritage and quality education for all, especially the North East. He said a higher education institute (HEI) is a knowledge centre where the blended system of learning is implemented well. He also said that AI must not overtake human endeavours and implored the participants to be positive for creating a self-reliant India.
RGU Vice Chancellor Prof SP Singh asserted that India must have �Indian Teacher�s Service� like IAS, IPS, IRS, etc., to maintain the sanctity in imparting education. Only an intent, energised, capable, dedicated, motivated, lifelong learner with a philanthropic mind with 64 kalas (arts) can make an exemplary teacher and quoted point 13 of NEP which speaks of it. Tenure track is an important ingredient of NEP to make or break the life of a student, he said. The true success of the NEP will be in its implementation in letter and spirit, Prof Singh added.
Prof Alak K Buragohain, Chairperson-Academic RGU, said the basic objective of NEP is to impart knowledge, instill life values and virtues as it is very India-centric. NEP envisages overhaul of the education policies, he said, adding that the actual value of NEP will be in its proper implementation.
