The Hynniewtrep Youths Council (HYC) today said that the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 in Meghalaya should not be done in a hurry.
Recently, North-East Hill University (NEHU) Vice-Chancellor Prof PS Shukla held a press conference to announce that the NEP will be introduced in all affiliated colleges from August 1. Two days later, NEHU issued a press release saying that it held a meeting with representatives of the affiliated colleges and that they had all agreed on the introduction of the NEP.
Meghalaya has been somewhat slow to introduce the NEP. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan that the state was not ready to implement it at the school level as it is not equipped with adequate infrastructure and other logistic support that will require additional funds for appointment of teachers, construction of additional classrooms, development of pedagogy resource training, etc.
However, HYC education secretary Enlang Sawian said that for Shukla to go ahead with the NEP “without taking in the broad views and consent of the educational institution heads would only be detrimental in nature and lead to consequential loss against the intention and objectives sought to be achieved by the NEP 2020”.
The pressure group is not against the NEP, per se, however. “It is evident that the policy holds immense potential for transforming the education system but since educational institutions in the state lack infrastructure and the need for more training of faculty and also the details of the policy, its needs, feasibility and its likely impact are not clear to most, such decisions taken without proper planning, realistic understanding, fair idea and consultation with all stakeholders – state government, communities, parents, teachers and students – the policy will not be achievable,” Sawian said.
