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Amidst the impasse between the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) and North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) over the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 continues, the College Teachers announced a non-cooperation movement. Breaking the ice over the issue, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma said the decision should be taken keeping in mind the welfare of the students.
Talking to Meghalaya News 24, the Education Minister on Monday stated that there is ramification and the consequence of not starting NEP 2020 this year.
“We have told and requested NEHU vice chancellor office to coordinate and discuss with the head of institution of all the colleges,” Sangma said, adding that the state Government has batted for developing a hybrid mode of implementation of NEP, 2020 which the University agreed.
Admitting that not implementing NEP 2020 there will be some problem, the Minister said, “For any development decision the students of the state must be the priority. The decision should be made at the interest of the student.”
While asserting that as change happens, there are also some issues and challenges, he said, “As a Government we are here to support our institutions and we will find a way how to support our institutions in implementing NEP 2020 if they decide so this year.”
Calling this new batch of students very important, the Education Minister expressed concern that continuing with old three year degree courses in the state, the students may not be able to find it easier to go for higher studies outside Meghalaya.
“This batch is very important because in almost all the states and in the central universities the NEP 2020 is already implemented and for example if we continue in the old system, three year degree courses our students of this batch will graduate in 2026 but those implementing colleges or institutions will be graduate in 2027, suppose our students wants to go for higher studies post graduation in Assam university or Delhi University or other states of the country then they will face the problems, may be they will not be able to take admission means their admission may be will not be entertained by the universities who are already implementing NEP 2020 because they are from three year degree courses,” he said.
“They will make to wait for 2027, and then when other college graduate comes for postgraduate again the university from other states may say you are from old system three years degree courses that may be great loss for the students therefore for the interest of the students’ atleast if the head of institutions can decide today,” the Minister said.
Because we shouldn’t be left behind, however, the decision should be taken at the interest of the students and they shouldn’t face problems. As a Government we are here to support the institutions, they can coordinate with NEHU,” Sangma added.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) has announced that they will boycott the first semester classes in protest against the move of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) to go ahead with the implementation of National Education Police (NEP), 2020.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the association held on Saturday.