NEP 2020 and the status of Colleges of Manipur
- Imphal Times Editorial :: August 18 2020 -

Much criticism has been received on the new NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020 from students’ group to academic circles including those serving as teachers in the government sectors.

The criticism and the argument about the feasibility of the new education policy seems to have direct impact creating apprehension to the government of Manipur.

When teachers were and are the one to systematically analyzed on government policy before any such has been introduced, there were no proper discussion that invites ideas of all academic circles by inviting their suggestions.

When the NEP 2020 has been approved by the Union cabinet the academic circle has been divided into two.

One which accept and appreciate the idea terming it as a new reform that will transform the whole education system of the country.

However, there are groups of highly intellect circle which criticized the new policy saying that it will sabotage the academic career of the entire student community.

These arguments and criticism are all base on factual presentation of what has been happening in the country.

Yesterday, the Kangleipak Students’ Association has stated the importance of setting up a committee to oversee the implementation of the NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY 2020 in the state at the earliest as the education being provided under the higher education system in the state to expand the horizon and present a better future prospect for the students.

It has become necessary to ascertain whether the colleges in Manipur are following the guidelines laid down by the UGC as to the teaching hours, Research and Academic contributions and Professional Development, Co-Curricular and Extension Activities etc. colleges functioning outside the RR and guidelines of the UGC need to be identified and categorized according to a state policy as a large number of colleges could not meet the parameters laid down by the NAAC such as lack of required number of teachers and inadequate teacher-student ratio thereby scoring low accreditation grades and losing out on funding by the UGC.

The state government should take up steps to appoint the required number of teachers as well as provide the infrastructures for the colleges without any delay.

Appointment of principal in charge for a large number of colleges and instead of a regular principal till their retirement reeks of corruption and a big factor for lack of accountability in these colleges, as according to the UGC guideline, regular principals are a appointed for five years, and if one wishes to continue beyond this term, then an interview is necessary for re-appointment as principal which is not the case in the state at present.

The state government should stop this trend and appoint regular principals for the colleges on a rotation basis immediately.

Teachers of government colleges and aided colleges who failed to meet the qualification prescribed y the UGC should be given an opportunity to meet the requirements under a timeframe and those who still cannot meet the qualifications within the given timeframe should be dealt with under a policy, and also the state government should adopt the recommendations fo the 7th pay commission for the teachers without any delay.

The above mentioned reasons are the main cause for the failure of the colleges in the state to be included in the top 200 list of colleges and universities of India as determined by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.

The academic activities provided in the state is evidently lacking in depth and quality when compared with that of other states, and in order to make improvements, required parameters such as infrastructure, academic activities, research, faculties etc should be improved said the release.