DESAM holds academic discourse on IP 2020
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 13 2020:
The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) organised an academic discourse on "National Education Policy 2020 implementation and its impact with special reference to North-East India" at the conference hall of COHSEM (Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur) complex today.
COHSEM Chairman Dr Lamabam Mahendra Singh attended the academic discourse as moderator.
Post doctoral fellow, Department of Economics, Manipur University, Dr Bishanjit Loitongbam attended as a rapporteur.
Speaking at the event, secretary education and academic affairs, DESAM, Longjam Robin stated that the NEP 2020 announced by the Prime Minister on July 29 is bringing major changes in the education system of the country.
As such, there is a need to study the impact it would have on the education system in North East India.
The NEP 2020 should be studied minutely.
Its benefits as well as the negative impact, if any, it would have on the culture and identity of the North East region should be studied, he said.
Devising great policy will not have the desired impact if it is not implemented effectively, he added.
The NEP 2020 has provisions for teachers to engage students in their mother tongue or local language for better understanding and effective teaching and learning.
However, there is a notion that those who can speak English are educated.
And as such a majority of the students are attending private schools and tuitions to improve their English.
As per the ASER report, 70 percent of the students in Manipur were enrolled in private schools in 2018 much higher than the National average of 31 percent.
Per child, parents are spending around Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 a year on education.
This is a result of the failure of the Government and its schools.
Most parents do not want to send their children to Government schools, he said.
Considering the present trend and situation of the education system in the State, the NEP 2020 should be studied minutely and the best ways to implement it effectively should be derived, he added.
Robin further appealed the Manipur University authority, DM University and colleges in the State to double their intake capacities in view of COVID-19 that has stopped a number of students from pursuing higher education in other States.
If the intake capacities are not increased, a great number of students may lose their valuable academic year, he said adding the authorities concerned should pass an ordinance to this effect and to manage the infrastructure and manpower needed.
Konjengbam Chinglenkhomba, Research scholar, Sichuan University, China; Dr Raheijuddin Sheikh, Principal, Lilong Haoreibi College; Dr Naorem Sanatomba, Assistant Professor, Department of Manipuri, Manipur University; Thokchom Memcha Devi, Principal PP Kids; Dr Chinglen Maisnam, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Manipur University and Leishangthem Lamyanba, secretary general, DESAM spoke at the event.