Ganderbal, July 29: Vice Chairman, J&K Higher Education Council (JKHEC) Padma Shri Prof Dinesh Singh on Saturday said the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) is aimed at developing creativity with reference to creating one’s own programme of learning.
“NEP-2020 helps the cause of imbibing the true spirit of education and is definitely not an endeavour to dictate what to do or what not to do,” he said, adding, “Education is independent of all degrees and real education lies in acting in harmony with your own aptitude or the drumbeats of your own soul while marching in the path of dealing with your real world.”
Prof Dinesh said this while addressing the deans, heads, coordinators, faculty members, scholars and students of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) here at the varsity’s Tulmulla campus. The function was organised by the university under the aegis of Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam Programme, School of Education (SoE) to celebrate the three years of the completion of NEP-2020.
Prof Dinesh Singh, who is also the former Vice-Chancellor, the University of Delhi, noted the key problems and issues facing traditional pedagogy and examination system in the country and vouched for active, project-based and meaningful learning, taking place in the real world in group situations. He advocated for a problem-solving approach towards educating the aspirants of undergraduate education.
“The biggest tragedy in our higher education system is the neglect of undergraduate education which, in fact, in top universities of the world like Harvard is seriously taken care of in terms of allowing every undergraduate student to follow his/her own drumbeats,” he said.
About curriculum framing, Prof Singh observed “Build your curriculum around the needs and challenges of society and one such challenge facing society, for example, is climate change. Project-based collaborative strategies are going to play key roles in addressing issues related to climate change.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof Shahid Rasool, said, “NEP-2020 is a well thought-out and meaningful policy that will lay a strong foundation of education in India. NEP-2020 is a document with a definite vision which will take some time in its realization but there are certain areas which can be implemented or put into action immediately.”
“The achievement of 50 percent gross enrolment ratio at higher education level demands a huge expansion of higher education system in the country and the policy is providing a way out for same. The serious implementation of NEP-2020 will make India a knowledge superpower in the near future,” he said.
Proposing the vote of thanks, Dean and Head SoE, Prof Syed Zahoor Ahmad Geelani, talked about various initiatives and steps, taken by CUK, towards implementing the recommendations of NEP-2020 with special reference to the introduction of 4-years undergraduate programmes with multiple entry and exit points, Multidisciplinary courses, reforms in evaluation system, curriculum development and so on. The lecture was followed by a question-answer session. The programme was conducted by Senior Asst Prof. Dr Mohammad Syed Bhat.
