The Meghalaya Teachers’ College Association (MCTA) has demanded the Vice Chancellor of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla to immediately withdraw a notification issued on July 12 for implementation of National Education Policy (NEP).
Speaking to reporters, MCTA general secretary Dr Airpeace W Rani said, “We demand the VC to withdraw the said notification with immediate effect. We have served the representation on July 21 and because he has remained silent therefore, we started the ongoing non-cooperation movement from August 1.”
He said teachers of the 22 colleges under the banner of the MCTA are boycotting first semester classes under the NEP and are not undertaking any assignments like setting up of question papers for the first semester courses under the new education policy. However, they continue to teach students of 3rd to 5th semesters under the present course.
“The way forward to end this stalemate according to us is for the VC to withdraw this notification and roll back this NEP from this academic session and go back to the old course. We are on agitation for nearly a month therefore, we request the VC to withdraw this notification and end the stalemate,” Rani said.
Asked, MCTA president Dr (Ms) BH Buam said regarding the next course of action, the association will take a collective decision after a threadbare discussion. She said they would not like to lay everything before the gathering but there are plans to approach the visitor of the university.
The president also said that approaching the court would the very last resort for the association if the NEHU does not comply to their demand.
MCTA member Shiv Pradhan said the July 12-notification had claimed that the decision to implement NEP has been taken as per decision of the 110th Academic Council of NEHU and the same has been approved by the Executive Council.
“Now, we challenge that on the basis of the proceeding of the 110th Academic Council. In the said proceedings, not even a single word is mentioned that the decision has been taken. Do you think a meeting is called on the very purpose to implement NEP for 2023-24 and the proceeding will not even mention it? The main agenda which has been discussed and passed according to them will not feature in the proceeding. Therefore, it is a blatant lie,” he said.