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School students sing at the ANPSA’s meeting in the NBCC Platinum Hall on Tuesday in Kohima.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Oct. 23 (EMN): The new education policy draft for the country is a ‘major threat’ as it attempts to bring changes in the educational system with interferences that may cause difficulties to schools. The policy needs to recognise regional differences, speakers at a programme of a private schools’ association stated during a conclave.
The All Nagaland Private Schools’ Association (ANPSA) conducted its 36th annual general meeting in the NBCC Platinum Hall on Wednesday in Kohima during which the speakers pointed to said concerns.
Addressing the members of the group, the president of the National Independent Schools Alliance (Nisa) Dr. Kulbushan Sharma expressed concern at the New Education Policy draft that attempts to bring about many major changes in the system of education with interventions that may cause difficulty in running schools.
The Nisa leader expressed dismay that the proposed policy to have school management committees (SMC) would be a major problem as the SMC structure would be ‘poorly managed.’ The quality of education will be hampered by such interference, he said.
Sharma called the New Education Policy “a major threat.” He called for collective efforts to campaign against the policy. He stated that the Nisa would not agree against this and urge for more campaigns through post card campaigns.
Sharma said that the policy has ‘issues with teachers’ because many untrained teachers will be ‘out’ once the new policy is implemented. It will cause shortage of trained teachers, he said. He asserted that the safety of teachers becomes a concern.
“Child safety is important but if teachers are not safe how do we have good education?” He maintained that the ‘safety of teachers’ should be ensured and that the autonomy of private schools should not be interfered with asserting that doing so will discourage innovation in schools.
Quality education needs a proper policy, he said, adding that a uniform policy is a threat. He has urged the private schools to unite for a collective voice.
“We should unite immediately, we should raise our voice,” said Sharma maintaining that the right to choose is a must and not forced.
Earlier, Nini Sekhose, president of the ANPSA delivered the welcome address. She highlighted the role of the association in the field of education in Nagaland. She expressed concern at the new education policy’s draft stating that uniformity will be a problem; the policy needs to recognise regional differences.
Sekhose asserted that the contribution of minority-run schools and the imposition of vernacular language becomes a question.