Assam Governor: NEP targets 50% higher education enrollment by 2035

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 5, 2024

Assam governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday said the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has set an ambitious target of increasing the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) in higher education from the current rate of about 28 per cent to 50 per cent by 2035. 

Kataria who is also the chancellor of Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University presented the degrees to the awardees in the sixth convocation of Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University held here on Tuesday, said this would require a strong commitment from everyone, from the government at the highest level to the educational institutions at the grassroots level. 

Kataria said that he is happy that KKHSOU has been unrelenting to increase GER in education.

Kataria also said that KKHSOU is the only open university in the Northeast, established in the year 2006 as the 14th open university of India with its motto ‘Education beyond barriers’. It is heartening that the University is committed to providing easy access to quality higher education to all learners by incorporating the latest educational and technological advancements. 

“In the National Education Policy 2020, the target has been set for the youth to acquire world-class skills by the challenges and requirements of the 21st century by staying connected to Indian traditions,” he said.

Kataria expressed happiness to learn that the University is named after Krishna Kanta Handiqui a Sanskrit scholar who brought glory to Assam at the national and international level. 

He said that KK Handique would always be remembered for his contribution to the spread of education in Assam. Many decades ago, he had taken up the cause of education for the deprived and backward people of Assam.

The governor said that attaining a formal degree is not the end of education. One should keep learning by being curious throughout their life. 

“Today, when there is rapid change in the field of technology, it has become even more necessary to keep learning continuously,” he said. 

The Governor on this occasion also called upon the students to empower themselves with modern technology to bring about qualitative changes in society.

Kataria also asked the graduates and research scholars to use their knowledge acquired in the university to make a difference in the lives of people in the society especially those less privileged. 

He also asked the graduates to strive for excellence in their chosen fields to bring laurels to the university, state as well as the nation. He asked them not to compromise with their moral values like truth, honesty and fairness.

Attending as the chief guest, pro-vice chancellor of Central University of Haryana, Prof Sushma Yadava lauded the efforts of the university in implementing the National Education Policy 2020 from the academic session of July 2023. 

She emphasized incorporating the Indian knowledge system within the framework of the university course curriculum. While emphasizing the importance of open and distance learning in the present-day context, she highlighted the fact that such a type of education system has broken down barriers in terms of resources, position and costs.

Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University vice-chancellor Prof Rajendra Prasad Das said that the university stands for equity, justice and democratization of higher education particularly among the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of the society. 

He also mentioned that the university has been striving hard to create an environment for lifelong learning and knowledge creation to build a knowledge society.

A total of 10,880 degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded to the students out of which 13 students were awarded the Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). Another 13 received MPhil degrees, 5464 were conferred Under Graduate degree, 5322 received Post Graduate degree and 68 learners were awarded Post Graduate Diploma. 

49% of the awardees were female learners.

In the Convocation, 28 learners were conferred Gold Medals for their excellence in academics. Besides, two senior-most learners were also present in the convocation to receive their degrees. Chandra Prabha Mahanta, a 75-year-old female learner was presented an Undergraduate degree by the University, while a 72-year-old male learner, Mahendra Bhuyan received his Post Graduate degree on the Convocation. A total of 07 jail inmates serving in different jails of Assam have completed their respective academic programmes from the University.