Pics: Sumanth Poojary

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Oct 18: The National Education Policy (NEP) was initially introduced in the nation by the Congress government, which now opposes it, and is advocating for a state-specific education policy instead,” said Dr Mahabaleshwar Rao, retired principal, T M A Pai College of Education.

Dr Mahabaleshwar Rao, addressing the gathering in the Teacher Educational Festival Udupi, 2024, organized by BGVS-Karnataka held at Yakshagana Kalaranga IYC hall, Udupi on October 18, emphasized the importance of 'Teachers Magazine' for educators, stating that it should be read by every teacher. He expressed his longstanding opposition to the NEP 2020, noting that while many states have implemented the policy, the current Karnataka government has rejected it.

Dr Mahabaleshwar, stating about the state specific education policy said, “With each change in government, educational policies are altered, leaving students and teachers in a state of uncertainty. The rise of English-medium schools has posed a challenge to government institutions, and Kannada-medium schools are decreasing. Simply displaying Kannada on boards is insufficient, we need people who actively read and speak the language. We require a dedicated teacher for each grade level, and the current system remains too focused on marks.”

Professor Ram Ramaswami, east vice-chancellor, central university of Hyderabad, in his inaugural address on contemporary challenges in education said, "At the time of India's independence, the average life expectancy was just 35 years, but it has now risen to 70. While the population has tripled and people are living longer, the growth in the number of educational institutions has not kept pace. Today, a quarter of the population remains illiterate, and the cost of illiteracy affects us all. There is a critical need for compulsory primary and secondary education to improve social wellbeing, yet public investment in education remains inadequate. Ensuring quality primary education for all children is a key sustainable development goal.

“The NEP 2020 promotes teaching in the mother tongue, but the policy itself is available only in English and Hindi. While it provides guidelines on teaching methods, some of the standards it sets for Indian knowledge are questionable. The NEP sounds promising, but we must ask whether it is more akin to a restaurant menu or an educational framework. How much can truly be learned in just one year? Furthermore, the policy emphasizes online education, which lacks the effectiveness of traditional classroom learning due to poor digital infrastructure," he said. 

Ramaswami also remarked, “Science education without access to a proper laboratory is even worse than a low-quality lab. Practical education is crucial, and with the increasing number of students, there is a pressing need for more educational institutions.”

Dr P V Bhandary, president teachers education festival reception committee and psychiatrist, welcomed the gathering, and said, “There are many who have made Udupi a wonderful place. Haji Abdulla is one among them, having built hospitals and schools. T M A Pai and T A Pai also made significant contributions to education. It is necessary to remember such people on this occasion."

General secretary Prashanth Babu, provided a report on the organization and its activities.

The programme began with the song, sung by the members of the organization.

Treasurer BGVS Karnataka professor Kamal Lodaya, vice presidents, F C Chegareddy and Shubankar Chakravarthi, Uday Gavankar, Santhosh Nayak Patla and Abhilasha were present on the occasion.