Principals of various colleges in the State have raised a number of concerns about the implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, including the lack of infrastructure and the need for more training for faculty.
The concerns were raised during a meeting of NEHU vice-chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, the NEP 2020 Implementation Cell, and the principals of 73 colleges affiliated to NEHU to discuss matters and concerns related to the implementation of the NEP 2020.
The meeting discussed a wide range of issues related to the implementation of NEP 2020, including the curriculum, syllabus, stand alone colleges, Academic Bank of Credit (ABC), multi-disciplinary courses, skill enhancement courses, and the need for faculty development.
On the concerns expressed by the college principals, Prof. Shukla assured them that NEHU would provide all the necessary support to the colleges to implement the NEP 2020 successfully.
A question was raised about colleges that do not have affiliation for certain courses, even though the NEP 2020 framework directs them to offer those courses.
Debashish Choudhury, Officer on Special Duty, College Development Cell, clarified that these colleges may apply for affiliation for the courses they do not currently have, and NEHU will expedite the process of inspection and affiliation.
Members of the NEP 2020 implementation cell consisting of Prof. Sherwin May Sungoh, Prof. G. Bez and Dr. Dinesh Bhatia apprised the principals of the upcoming ordinances governing the introduction of NEP 2020. They also cleared all doubts and questions regarding the major and minor courses.
The benefit of introducing four-year undergraduate courses was discussed in detail. Members of the NEP 2020 implementation cell said that students will now have the choice of leaving the study after every academic year under the multiple entry and multiple exit provision. A student who wishes to discontinue after the first year will get a certificate, a diploma after the second year, and a degree after the third year. A student who completes the four-year program will receive a degree with research.
The college principals also put forward the issue of internships. The vice-chancellor replied that the NEP 2020 envisions making the youth skillfully educated and internships are an integral part of that vision. Therefore, colleges should make an effort to collaborate with various skill development centers, industries, and enterprises to provide internships to the students.
The committee also addressed the issue of the dearth of teachers in colleges that do not offer all the disciplines,
“It is important to start by offering MDCs and SECs courses in a way that does not overburden the existing human resources. This will allow the colleges to gradually build up their capacity to offer these courses, while also providing students with the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge they need,” Prof. Sherwin May Sungoh, a member of NEP 2020 implementation cell, said.
At the end of the meeting, all the colleges were of the opinion that the implementation of the New Education Policy is the need of the hour and that they will do everything in their capacity to make it a success.
