Webinar envisages a ‘New Nagaland’ with New Education Policy 2020 in context
Morung Express news
Kohima | August 10
The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 offers many opportunities for Nagaland to move forward and progress, but the State Government should form a special education commission to enable such processes, a Naga scholar opined today.
Dr Kanato G Chophy, New India Foundation Fellow, further said that a careful introspection needs to be undertaken towards the 3 language policy, given the fact that the state of Nagaland itself is multi-lingual because of the diverse tribes.
He was addressing a webinar titled, ‘New Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Envisaging a New Nagaland,’ organised by Nagaland College Principals' Association (NCPA), in collaboration with Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Japfü Christian College, Kigwema on August 10.
While stressing the importance of English as a global language, he stated that stakeholders need to put more efforts and come up with strategies keeping in mind that most of “our tribal languages are endangered.”
On the flip side, Chophy said that a multi-disciplinary approach towards honing basic skills and doing away with strict compartmentalisation was a key takeaway of the NEP 2020, with emphasis on coordinating the connect between the hand and mouth.
Professor Dr Kedilezo Kikhi, Professor, Dept of Sociology and Chair, Dr BR Ambedkar Chair, Tezpur University also argued that the NEP 2020 is an approach towards addressing the National Policy on Education, 1986, wherein the foundational pillars of the policy- “access, equity, affordability and accountability” would point towards universalisation of education.
In the context of the state of Nagaland, Dr Kedilezo noted that government has a key responsibility vis-à-vis Nagaland in comparison with other states.
He stressed on strengthening government schools and mentioned the importance of departmental involvement like the SCERT, Anganwadi et cetera.
Taking reference of Amartya Sen on how social exclusion leads to capability deprivation, Dr Kedilezo also called for inclusive education that would tap into regional inequalities and domains of the privileged or the medium of language.
Dr Visakhono Hibo, Principal, Japfü Christian College and President NCPA meanwhile, moderated the event.
