Teachers of all colleges in Meghalaya will boycott first semester classes from tomorrow as a mark of protest against the forceful implementation of New Education Policy 2020 by North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU).
The call for boycott was issued by Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA).
However, MCTA said that classes for 3rd and 5th Semesters will function without any disruption. It also asked its members to attend the classes and service the course as per schedule.
At the same time, MCTA asked all members to reject all responsibilities related to the implementation of the NEP 2020 with immediate effect.
The college teacher’s body also termed NEHU’s behaviour as callous, impassive and obstinate for going ahead with the New Education Policy 2020 despite the policy not being passed by the academic council of the university.
However, NEHU vice chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla said that the New Education Policy will definitely play a very vital role in the overall development of the entire educational eco-system in Meghalaya.
Shukla who along with the faculty members and students of NEHU attended a ceremony at New Delhi last week to mark the third anniversary of the National Education Policy today said that the policy allows to follow the traditional knowledge systems to futuristic technology, opting new innovative ways “that will empower our students to do innovation, become entrepreneur, carry out quality research work and many.”
“The dropout rate of our State is around 10 per cent as per the recent study which is a very serious matter of concern, due to the variety of needs the students are leaving their education in between and they cannot continue their education. No State can develop without the contribution of its people and society, and education is the most powerful weapon to strengthen the entire ecosystem of the society. Here comes the role and importance of NEP where the facilities like multiple entry and exit will allow our students to re-enter the higher education system at any stage of their life and with the help of Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) their records will be digitally stored,” he said.
It may be mentioned that last week, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that with the coming of the New Education Policy 2020, a four-year course will be there and as a result it would create a major challenge to most institutions.
Sangma said that many individual colleges may not be able to implement the policy in one go due to challenges of manpower, financial constraint and infrastructure.
