State Govt didn't approve draft NEP in toto: Education Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 25 2020: Education Minister Th Radheshyam today told the State Assembly that the State Government did not give full consent to the draft National Education Policy (NEP).

Responding to a query raised by MLA Surjakumar Okram about the draft NEP during question hour today, Radheshyam said that the draft NEP was amended several times by different committees which were constituted from time to time since India achieved independence.

The Kothari Commission was set up to reform the Indian education system with a holistic approach in 1962-64.The latest draft NEP was formulated in 2019, Radheshyam said.

Saying that the new draft NEP contains four sections, the Education Minister elaborated that the four sections are school education, higher education, additional key focus area and transforming education.

The State Government made a number of observations and the same were sent to the Centre for incorporation in the draft NEP.

Before the observations were sent to the Centre, a joint meeting was held with teachers and student organisations, and their suggestions were elicited.

However, it is not yet clear what the Central Government would do about the observations sent by the State Government, Radheshyam said.

Pointing out that one question of the ongoing Class XII exam asked students to draw the symbol of a political party, Surjakumar Okram maintained that the particular question is unquestionable as it is out of syllabus.

He then urged the Government to take up befitting action against the concerned question setters and also to give grace mark for the particular question.

However, Radheshyam maintained that political parties are covered by syllabus and asking students about symbols of political parties is permissible.

Next year, students may be asked to draw the symbol of another political party, said the Education Minister.

To K Meghachandra's query whether Yairipok Huidrom Primary School has been abolished, Radheshyam said that there is no question of abolishing any school.

In records, the school has 40 students but in reality only 16 students attend classes whereas there are seven teachers.

As per the Right to Education Act, the teacher-student ratio should be 1:30, Radheshyam said.

He said that there are many schools where teachers far outnumber students.

As such, these schools were amalgamated to nearby schools in accordance to a Cabinet decision.

The schools thus amalgamated to other schools may be re-opened when they have healthy strength of students, Radheshyam said.

To a query raised by Alfred Kanngam Arthur, the Education Minister claimed that recruitment of teachers under RMSA and SSA is done as per the norms prescribed by NCTE.

As no teachers have been recruited since 2011, the State has been facing acute shortage of teachers.

On the other hand, around 500 to 600 teachers retire every year, Radheshyam said.

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