MU, UNACCO School discourse shed light on NEP 2020
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 05 2022: Manipur University (MU) vice chancellor Prof N Lokendra has stressed the need for conducting a critical study on whether scientific and technical terms in Manipuri language should be incorporated in Manipuri dictionary.

He made the statement during the inauguration of a two-day National Seminar on "NEP 2020 and Higher Education Through Indian Languages" organised by Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (Department of Education), Ministry of Education, and Department of Library & Information Science, MU at the Court hall of the varsity on Monday.

Professor N Lokendra pointed out that in addition to Manipuri, the government/administration seems to be enthusiastic about promoting the old languages of India through Higher Education.

On top of this, learning new languages is now an essential human skill, not to mention of the various benefits and opportunities brought on by the same.

The state government has already announced to give priority to those with knowledge of multiple languages in job recruitment, he conveyed.

Mentioning about Manipuri language and literature, the VC emphasised on providing a scientific reason on whether the technical terms included in Manipuri dictionary can be used or not.

In addition, there is a need to conduct research on the technical words used by old Manipuri scholars in the manuscripts stored at Manipuri Archives.

For this, there is a need to open a regional centre at MU like that of Commission for Scientific & Technical Terminology, he proposed.

The inaugural function was also attended by Commission for Scientific & Technical Terminology, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education commissioner Prof Girish Nath Jha; School of Humanities, Manipur University dean Prof N Aruna Devi; Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology, Ministry of Education, New Delhi assistant director (Subject) Ch Binodini Devi; and Library & Information Science, Manipur University head of department Prof Ch Ibohal Singh as presidium members.

During the programme, other speakers also emphasised the need for developing and promoting Manipuri language.

Meanwhile, Central University of Himachal Pradesh vice-chancellor Dr Kuldip Chand Agnihotri said that implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 will shine new light on the education sector and make the youth of the state more future ready.

He made the remark at a seminar on NEP 2020 organised by UNACCO School, Khongman Zone 3, Imphal East at the school campus on Monday.

UNACCO School chairman N Irabanta, director Arup Mukhopadhyay and founders of different private schools of the state also attended the seminar.

As guest speaker of the event, Dr Kuldip Chand said that the present education system in the country is the reminiscence of colonial British era.

Though it would not be wrong to say that the British introduced formal education in the country, the system they introduced was limited to some degree so that the citizens of the country could dance to their tune.

As a result, many bright students from the country fail to shine in the global arena.

However, NEP 2020 will remove that barrier and shine new light on the education system of the country thereby taking the students to a new level of perfection, he said.

Kuldip also stressed the need for making the masses aware on the new changes envisioned by NEP 2020.Teachers should also uphold their professional ethics and principles to provide better education to the students and to make the new policy hit its target, he added.

In his address, N Irabanta said that education sector has been facing major challenges in the country and NEP 2020 is a one-stop solution to those challenges.

The new policy will give emphasis on creativity, skill development and other key elements of education apart from the academic element.

One of the main features of the new policy is to promote teaching-learning process in mother language.

Successful implementation of the policy will require support and contribution from the educational institutions in private sector as well, he added.

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