Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 22: Shakthi Residential School, Shree Gopalakrishna Pre-school and Shakthi PU College in collaboration with the department of Public Instructions, south, here, on Saturday February 22 conducted a talk on ‘New Education Policy’.
Dr Mahabaleshwara Rao, the co-ordinator of Dr T M A Pai College of Education, Udupi was the resource person. He began with the Education Policy of 1986 that contained 10 core elements and 84 values proposed by NCERT and felt that it is applicable even today. "The Indian education system has been a legacy of British Education or a white man’s burden on us. We are also considered to be ‘Children of Macaulay’ but never spoke on professional college and commercialization of education. Today, we needed 'India centred Education’ which must be much different from 'Urban centric’.
"In the present scenario, there is a need for early childhood care and education policy. A child’s brain between the age group of 0 to 6 years is highly receptive and about 85% of its growth occurs during this period. Therefore, there is a need to expose the child to psychomotor, physical cognitive social and linguistic development if nurtured well at this age, the child would become very productive, thoughtful and empathetic.
"Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE) is a kind of ‘School preparedness’ that would have a flexible curriculum, no separation of age (3-6 years) play-based activity based and multilingual communication is permitted. Since ‘Every child is a miniature scientist’ there is a need to expose the child to varied sounds, indigenous art, teamwork, interaction and co-operation. There is a proposal to make ECCE free and qualitative programme."
Moving on to the school education, he stated that the policy mentions the four-stage design of school education. 5 + 3 + 3 + 4. "The first five years being foundation stage, next three years preparatory stage, then the three years of Primary stage and last, the Higher Secondary level. The syllabus would comprise of common core and electives, to reduce the curriculum load. There is no distinction between Science and Art. It should be an experiment, discussion and analysis based.
"A change in the exam system is the need of the hour. The medium of instruction up to Grade 5 should be in the vernacular only. Digital learning, CCE and value Education is to be given emphasis. Knowledge of India’s diversity and vastness along with the current affairs is to be introduced in the syllabus."
He concluded hoping that the New Education Policy would meet the changing dynamics of the populations' requirement with regards to quality education and innovation by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge.
Representatives from 85 schools of Mangaluru participated and found a satisfying response to their queries.
Dr Prashanth Kumar, block education officer, Mangaluru south congratulated the host school for their social commitment and requested other schools to organize such beneficial programmes in the future for the benefit of parents, teachers and students.
He said, "Change is inevitable, change is constant and it is the lane of life. The final version of the New Education Policy has come about after filtering through more than 2 lac suggestions received by the government and after discussions with state govt. If people with similar thoughts were given a chance or were considered, the outcome would have been more effective and productive. There is no doubt that students, teachers and educational institutions would get the right equipment to bring about an educational revolution," he concluded.
Vidya Kamath, the principal of SRS welcomed the gathering, Priyanka Rai proposed the vote of thanks. Rekha D’costa compered the programme.
K C Naik, the managing trustee of Shree Gopalakrishna Temple, Baikady Janardana Achar, administrator Ramesh K, chief advisor, Prakhyath Rai, Institute Development officer, Prabhakara G, the principal of Shakthi PU College and Neema Saxena, co-ordinator of Shree Gopalakrishna Pre School were present on the occasion.