Concerned teachers propose seminar on National Education Policy

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Aug. 29: Members of the education community and teachers have proposed conducting seminars concerning the National Education Policy. Seminars are required considering its present and future implications and consequences, stated organisers of an academic discourse that was conducted by the management of the Dimapur Mission Higher Secondary School in Dimapur.

There are concerns that the National Education Policy is ‘attempting to bring about many major changes against the current education system’ and that the Center may impose its own system on the state by shifting the subject matter of Education from the State list to the Concurrent list.

“An immediate need to understand the present and future implications and its consequences of the newly drafted National Education Policy (NEP) is realised and thereby proposed the state government and all stake holders to organise seminar and discuss seriously about the concept and objectives of the NEP,” the organisers stated in a separate press release issued to the media on Wednesday informing about the programme.

This proposal was made during an academic discourse that was initiated by the management of the Dimapur Mission Higher Secondary School, the updates stated. The discussions were conducted on August 29 at the DABA office building in Dimapur.

This initiative was taken as an attempt to understand and response to the new National Education Policy drafted by the committee led by Dr. K Kasturirangan before finalisation as a national policy.

Dr. Lamech, a professor from the Hindustan Bible College in Chennai was a resource person at the event. He is also the chairman of the All Nations Institute of Medical Sciences in Chennai, the press release stated.

In his presentation, Lamech spoke about his concern that the National Education Policy is attempting to bring about many major changes against the current education system.

‘There are apprehensions that the Center may impose its own system on the state by shifting the subject matter of education from the State List to the Concurrent List,’ the press release stated.

Lamech further expressed deep concern on the areas of secularism and reservation in the new National Education Policy which need further consultations with all the stakeholders in education.

Speaking about the new policy, Lamech said that teachers as educationalist have to consume the policy and then only they will be able to spread awareness among the student. “Children are vulnerable and we have the responsibility of providing the best education possible”, he said. The NEP ensures good education that empowers the children to the changing scenario of the society, he added.

‘While going through the NEP we might come across some policy which differs from our culture and viewpoint but we need to learn to adapt to the new policy, “Education is to be beyond believes,”’ he said.

As per the NEP, State School Regulatory Authority (SSRA) will be given the highest power in the education system and there will be transparency in school system where Parent-Teacher association will be more effective than it is today. SSRA will make it possible for many new schools to be established as they will only look into the practical aspects of the school like stable building, security and safety of student and sufficient and qualified teachers, said Lamech.

“Teachers and schools have the responsibility of enlightening the parents as to what kind of education they are providing”, therefore, now parents have the right to check the lesson notes of the teachers anytime and thus teachers have to be ready to show them whenever they come for inspection, he said.

“We really need not give importance to beliefs,” he said, adding that education has to be something beyond beliefs and supposed to be scientific. He urged the public to adopt change and implement it to a certain level that would benefit the society.

Lamech said also that the new educational policy suggests a certain technological importance and urges the teachers to live up to the situation by a upgrading themselves with computer knowledge that would be an added advantage for the level of experience and compassion they have, to be good fit. He added that the teaching community are to be thinkers.

In another endeavour of the school management to enhance the teaching skills of teachers and also to enable teachers to become competent in handling children in a digital era, a daylong workshop on ‘teachers’ education’ was conducted on the 27th of August at the same venue.

The workshop was conducted by Butusen Ozükum, a freelance trainer from Shillong in Meghalaya, the press release stated.

During a session of group discussions and activities, the participants were made to identify the expectations of the students and parents so as to enable teachers to understand the needs for the well being of the students.

They discussed also about the potential causes of ‘distress situation amongst the students’ and the solutions to reform the lives of children in difficult situations, the press release stated.

During the workshop, the participating teachers shared their views about the policy. They said that in spite of the imperative need to use ICT as tools for educating students in classrooms, it cannot be used as total substitution in place of traditional teaching methods in the class where human touch speaks to the minds of the students.

Nevertheless, the need to impart ICT education for the teachers to teach and discipline the students was also discussed in great interest, the press release stated.