Shillong, Sep 11: Vice Chancellor of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla has asserted that the university will not reverse the decision to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
“However, in an effort to ensure the best possible implementation of the policy, the university will thoroughly discuss any shortcomings or issues that may arise during the process in the forthcoming Academic Council meeting,” Shukla said on Monday after a meeting with the delegation of the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA).
He wanted the MCTA to cooperate with the university to ensure the smooth implementation of NEP 2020.
The MCTA has been demanding withdrawing of the July 12-notification that makes it mandatory for affiliated colleges to implement the NEP.
The association felt that it was a blatant lie when the notification claimed that the NEP will be implemented as per the decision taken by the 110th Academic Council.
The VC however said the 104th meeting of the Academic Council of the University held on September 11, 2020 resolved “to adopt the implementation of the NEP 2020; inter-alia resolved to constitute a Task Force for effective implementation”.
The VC said the Academic Council never frames any policy keeping in mind a starting date. Any policy framed by the Academic Council is expected to be implemented by the Executive Council without any delay because a policy is framed and adopted for the greater good of the stakeholders. Since the Academic Council has adopted the relevant ordinance, regulations, and syllabi, the Executive Council is duty bound to implement them without any delay.
The VC reiterated that the University has not received any letter from the principals of the affiliated colleges intimating their difficulty in implementing the NEP 2020 regarding FYUG programme.
The meeting convened by the University with the affiliated college principals on July 21, was participated by majority of the principals and they are satisfied with the move. The minutes of the meeting, which basically contain the issues raised and the clarifications thereof, have been circulated to the principals, he said.
“We understand that implementation of a new system requires adjustment to address the shortcomings. In case any shortcoming in the 110th Academic Council’s decision arises during the intervening period, the same shall be rectified at the time of confirmation of the minutes in the next meeting of the Academic Council (111th ), as per set policy,” Prof Shukla said.
“The University has already made it clear that all kinds of assistance that would be required on the way in implementation of the same shall be provided to the affiliated colleges, except financial assistance”, he said.
The VC said there was no dictatorial decision as everything was discussed.
The University has taken cognisance of the infrastructure and resource deficits in many colleges affiliated to NEHU. In general, this is the case in present structure as well where the University is forced to take lenient views on implementation of all the relevant provisions so as to encourage spreading of higher education in the remotest part of the state, he added.
“While appreciating this genuine concern of the MCTA, we have framed a curriculum structure which is implementable from the year 2023-24 without increasing additional class loads and infrastructure for this year,” he said.
“Furthermore, the management of the colleges are not under the purview of the University. The implementation committee stated that the first year of the NEP 2020 curriculum has been prepared and circulated to all the colleges and it does not require any additional human resource and infrastructure as of now. And we still have one year to develop the infrastructure for the second year,” the VC added.
