While participating as a Chief Guest in two days Webinar organized by HP State Education Council, Governor Bandaru Dattatraya said that National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 envisions a new India which is progressive, prosperous, creative and full of moral values and effective in reviving its glorious past.The Governor said that the Government of India has implemented the NEP in the country after 34 years and in the current perspective, it has many merits like education to all, affordable and skill development education, but on the other side, its implementation was also challenging. He stressed to understand and implement its comprehensive form. He said that it was a good opportunity for Himachal to take the lead in the field of education. He added that the State has always excelled in the field of education and NEP also depends on the State Government, how seriously it would implement it. He hoped that the manner in which the State Government has shown its proactivity towards this policy, such as taking opinions from academics and common citizens in its implementation and setting up a dedicated workforce, it would also meet the practical challenges of its implementation.Shri Dattatraya said that Himachal may work better in some educational reforms suggested in the NEP and stressed on the need to identify areas where the state could take an edge. He added that first time any education policy talks about 6 percent outlay on the education. He said that higher education has been made flexible in it and now the graduation will be of the four years, but there will be a provision for dropping the course in between. He said that if someone leaves the course in one year, he will be given a certificate, diploma in two years and degree after completing three years and that a three-year degree is enough for young people seeking jobs.
Govind Singh Thakur, Education Minister welcomed the Governor on the occasion and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made this possible by approving the National Education Policy with political will. He said that as per the policy, a lot of work has already been done in Himachal Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Soon the Task Force would be ready and work will be started on it. “How India will be in the 21st century and what kind of youth we want to prepare to become 'Vishva Guru' for which the format of the National Education Policy is before us”, said Shri Thakur.He said that the guidance of Governor would be taken in implementing the policy in Himachal Pradesh and assured that Himachal would become the leading state in the country in implementing this policy.Prof. Millind Mararthe who joined as a keynote speaker from Mumbai said that National Education Policy was India Centric which would bring a complete change in the field of education in India. This policy would be equitable and inclusive, through which affordable and quality education would be available to everyone in the country, he added. He said that this policy along with knowledge of technology would also ensure core competency in two or three subjects.He said that it was student-friendly education policy and has a wide scope of flexibility from 6th standard, as the students have the choice to select the subject as per their talent. He said that it also provided an internship after the sixth standard upto 12th level and in this way they would become capable to start their own business. It also helps in shifting towards holistic education and provide autonomy to the colleges, he added. Prof. Sunil Kumar Gupta, Chairman, HP State Higher Education Council welcomed the Governor and thanked him in sharing their experience in the implementation of National Education Policy in the State. He thanked the State Government to implement National Education Policy-2020 in the State to prepare students for 21st century. He said that the State had also given favourable suggestions and hoped that it would prove to be a milestone for implementing it effectively.Dr. Amarjeet Sharma, Director Higher Education proposed a vote of thanks.Teaching faculty and students from 80 centres participated in the webinar.