AIFUCTO officials and others at NEC meeting and National Seminar on June 8 at Kohima Science College Jotsoma. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 9
A two-day National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of All India Federation of University & College Teachers’ Organization (AIFUCTO)-cum-National Seminar on “NEP 2020: Envisioning Quality Higher Education” commenced today at Kohima Science College Jotsoma.
The concept note of the National Seminar stated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 sets for itself the goal of transforming the complex Indian education system to meet the needs of the 21st century India. It has also come at a time when, on the higher education front, it continues to suffer from quality education and delivery and its failure to offer multidisciplinary programmes.
Addressing the inaugural session, AIFUCTO President, Prof Kesab Bhattacharya said that the National Education Policy is well drafted and lucid, but when it is read between the lines “this education will be a dangerous education policy.”
He said the NEP aims to achieve by 2035 Gross Enrolment Ratio of almost 50%, but for that he said it requires huge financial expenditure.
The government has proposed that expansion of education will be through PPP mode, where in place of private it has been replaced by philanthropy, he said.
He questioned whether philanthropic organizations without considering their profit will invest money for expansion of education in the country, which will affect the downtrodden and may lead to ‘survival of the richest.’
Prof Bhattacharya also questioned whether the government truly wants to achieve scientific temper, when Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Mendeleev Periodic Table is being removed from the syllabus.
He also claimed that in the NEP 2020 document nothing is mentioned about gender equilibrium in education or women education.
While raising concern on the multiple entry-exits, choice based credit system, which, he said, sounds good, but may also encourage and legalize dropouts in higher education so that only few can reach the top.
‘Urgent necessity of redesigning and refashioning of NEP 2020’
AIFUCTO General Secretary, Prof Arun Kumar said that AIFUCTO was of the firm opinion that under the present structure of NEP-2020, quality higher education is a dream and distant possibility.
There is urgent necessity of redesigning and refashioning of NEP 2020 to serve as focal point for inclusion and quality education, he said.
Prof Kumar said that AIFUCTO’s view point expressed through representation, memorandum, agitation programme and through joint action of all the state holders through JFME did not find democratic response by the central government.
“The two day deliberation of AIFUCTO here (Nagaland) will definitely provide a way to oppose the undemocratic, retrograde, unscientific and exclusionary NEP 2020 and thereby save education, save our campus and future of nation,” he said.
Let reason dictate and not whims and be prepared for a greater struggle to transform our system of education to meet the growing negative challenges and ensure our constitutional ethos, Prof. Kumar said.
He said that AIFUCTO is the only national platform of universities and college teachers across the country and is committed to democratic, secular, scientific and inclusive education system.
Since its formation in 1962, AIFUCTO is committed to the values of the Indian Constitution and recognizes the multicultural, multi-religious and multilingual identity of the nation.
Teachers’ movement in North East India
Prof M Lokendro Singh, National Secretary, North East Zone highlighted “Teachers’ movement in North East India.”
The state level Teacher’s organization of state universities and colleges of the six states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland) are under the North East Zone (Zone-1) of AIFUCTO.
He recalled that all the state units in north east region joined the nationwide protest on February 14, 2023 called by AIFUCTO to knock the ears of the government.
Representatives of 4 state units from NE zone participated the three-day dharna staged in front of UGC office, New Delhi from November 16 to 18, 2022.
Keeping in view of the movements participated by the teachers of North-eastern states, he said “we have now maintained a complete unity and solidarity in the region.”
He appealed all the leaderships of affiliated units and members of ANGCTA to come forward and take active part in AIFUCTO movements to preserve the status of higher education in the region and the country as well.
The inaugural session was chaired by Dr Richard Dzüvichü, president KSCTA Jotsoma while vote of thanks was proposed by ANGCTA General Secretary, Dr Yelhi Vero.
The two-day programme is organised by AIFUCTO and All Nagaland Government College Teachers Association (ANGCTA) in collaboration with Kohima Science College Teachers Association, Jotsoma. It will continue till June 10.
