NEP has the potential to rediscover India’s inherent academic prowess: Assam Guv

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 28, 2024

Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday said the first education policy of the 21st century, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to comprehensively reform the nation’s education system from primary to higher education levels.

Addressing the North Eastern and Eastern zone Vice Chancellors’ Conference on Implementation of NEP 2020 organized by Pragjyotishpur University in collaboration with the UGC at a city hotel here, Kataria said: “The first education policy of the 21st century, NEP 2020 aims to comprehensively reform our nation’s education system from primary to higher education levels.”

“Aiming at value-based education, skill development, and the integration of digital technology, NEP 2020 promises to usher in a new era of educational excellence,” Kataria said.

The Governor also said that the nation’s future depends on the ability to provide quality higher education to the youth. Therefore, the Union government has introduced and subsequently implemented the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) to provide more inclusive, holistic and quality education.

“This is a policy made for the future, which will promote the human resources development and progress of the nation. Therefore, everyone needs to work with full dedication for the implementation and adaptation of this policy,” Kataria exhorted.

The Governor also added that the aim of education in ancient India was not only the acquisition of knowledge but also the complete realization and liberation of the self. The world-class institutions of ancient India such as Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramshila, and Vallabhi set the highest standards of teaching and research across diverse disciplines and host scholars and students from across the world.

“It is important that we respect this tradition and our rich academic heritage and work towards propagating it. To bring this point home, an Indian Knowledge System Centre should be established in each university and higher educational institution to revive India’s vitality in education,”  the Governor added.

Kataria also said that to implement the New Education Policy, the universities will have to focus on education and research in cutting-edge areas technical areas.

He also said that researchers should also pay special attention to inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary dimensions with a scope of addressing relevant issues grappling the society.

Kataria further said that the government is committed to the successful implementation of NEP 2020 and accordingly over the past four years, Raj Bhavan and the education department of Assam have organized several conferences to reorient the stakeholders of the NEP for its impactful rollout. Today’s conference will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences among the Vice-Chancellors of Universities of the Northeast and Eastern Region and a platform for learning and sharing, the Governor added.

Meghalaya education minister Rakkam A Sangma and chairman of UGC Prof M Jagadesh Kumar also spoke on the occasion.

Vice Chancellor of Pragjyotishpur University, Prof. Smriti Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellors and representatives of the North-East and Eastern Region along with a host of other dignitaries were present at the conference.