Media Release

Davangere, Jul 22: St Aloysius College, Harihar organized a half-day session on National Educational Policy 2019 on July 20 at the college auditorium. The resource person for the day was Dr Fr Melwyn Sunny Pinto SJ, director, Community Radio Sarang 107.8 and HOD of the department of Journalism, St Aloysius College, Mangaluru. The session began with a prayer led by Rashmitha, department of Physics.

This session focused mainly on the National Educational Policy 2019, chaired by Dr Kasturirangan which is drafted by the ministry of Human Development. The session focused on the key areas of this policy and each area was discussed.

This policy creates fear, anxiety and curiosity even though it is a simple one where it uses layman’s language, as it is mostly student centred. The entire policy is categorized in four different spheres as School education, Higher Education, Additional Key Focus areas and Transforming Education. It focuses on certain goals to create an education system in the 21st century, rooted in Indian Tradition, not just preparation for life, but liberation of self and covers 50 percent of its citizens, covers all kinds of education. Its vision is India Centred, Sustainability, Equitable, Vibrant, High quality education. It covers all areas from pre education to Phd. It has a multidisciplinary approach where it focuses on liberal arts through mainstream EC/CC and vocational courses.

In school education, it focuses on early childhood care and education, where compulsory education has to be provided until the age of 18. It has computed at 5-3-3-4 design where it has 4 stages of learning, where foundational stage focuses on pre-primary school which is the age for play and discovery, next it speaks preparatory stage where students of grade 3-5 are considered ,this age is for pre vocational orientation, thirdly it has middle stage, where students are from grade 6-8 focusing on experiential learning and lastly secondary stage, where students belong to grade 9-12,this stage focuses on learning a foreign or classical language and one year of vocational training.As the curriculum is divided in such a manner, students are not burdened and there is a holistic approach based on discussion and analysis. The policy also suggests on having State Census examination in 

grade 3, 5 and 8 and restructuring the board exams having three semesters each, where the students can choose the subjects of their choice. Introduction of open electives as early as grade 9 is also a thought that is given, but how the students will be able to judge properly and choose the subjects is a concern.

There is also an introduction of school complex concept where there will be a secondary school and all public schools in its neighbourhood, as there is a possibility to share resources and staff according to the facilities available.

There is also a concern raised wherein teachers are being deployed for non-educational purposes and not allowed to fully concentrate on education related issues. As suggested by the policy, the teacher pupil ratio should be 30:1.There is a suggestion for the creation of one regulatory body as in State School Regulatory Authority.

Concentrating on higher education, they cannot be having a single programme, it must be multidisciplinary. There will be a creation of one regulatory body called National Higher Education Regulatory Authority (NHERA), where the present governing bodies will be operators and not controllers.

Centralisation of all the educational bodies will be done under Rashtriya Shiksha Aayog, which will constitute as an apex body for education headed by the Prime Minister. This body will be responsible for developing, implementing, evaluating and revising the policies based on the vision of educating the people of the country on a continuous and sustainable basis.

There was group discussion held and the following points were discussed with questions raised on what are some areas that need to be altered, corrected and changed? What are some of the strengths of the policy that need to be highlighted? What are some of the areas of concern? Following points were pointed out among the groups as to the Interests of the students have to be considered while admitting rather than on the basis of merit, Policy doesn’t give proper specifications as to how to reach to the rural areas, too much of centralization that is being done, promotion shouldn’t be encouraged. In the next question, they pointed out that its s a great policy as it is student centred, it tries tp explore the hidden talents of the students, facilities like mid-day meal and breakfast is a good thought, open elective system helps the students think in terms of all fields and rote learning will reduce. Next a few concerns regarding the policy were raised as to how far these skill development programmes in schools will be appreciated in future? How far the EQ and SQ of the student will be considered on par with IQ? And duration of a teacher in particular institution should be specified.

The other guests present for the day were Fr Eric Mathias SJ, superior and principal of St Aloysius Degree College, Fr Santhosh Fernandes SJ, principal, PU College, Fr Pradeep Sequiera SJ, finance officer, Pusphalatha Urs and Sunny Gudinho, vice-principals of Discipline and Academic and Princy Pinto, cultural coordinator.

The session ended with distribution of certificates to the participants present. The entire session was moderated by Demora Periera, department of Commerce.