National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Chairman Dr Anil Sahasrabudhe said in Thiruvananthapuram, on April 19, that higher studies in the mother tongue will empower students. The New Education Policy (NEP) has been formulated to explore the talents of every student. He was inaugurating a seminar on “Mental Development & Educational Excellence”. The seminar was organised in connection with the golden jubilee celebrations of the Janmabhumi Malayalam daily.
Dr Sahasrabudhe said that there are unique talents in every student. However, teachers fail to identify and develop them. The NEP aims to trace and nurture these talents. Teachers should be empowered for this purpose. They should be capable not only of imparting higher levels of education, but also of leading students towards mental development. Students possess observational skills; hence, teachers should be role models for them. They should know how to gauge the pulse of society. The NEP promotes the art of studying nature, language, and culture (sanskriti). Wisdom and knowledge of veterans from all walks of life will be made accessible to children. A minimum of five languages, including the mother tongue, shall be taught from ages three to eight during primary education. This goes beyond the current study of languages. Just as children learn their mother tongue at home, they should learn other languages through games and stories.
Dr Sahasrabudhe added that from the age of eight onwards, children should receive vocational training. This is expected to instil a sense of dignity of labour and transform their attitudes towards workers. Simultaneously, both children and teachers will gain insights into the children’s aptitudes. The study of a combination of different subjects from classes 9 to 12, along with related assessments, will help both teachers and students determine the appropriate sector for higher studies.
The Chairman noted that currently, students from government schools find English-medium education challenging when they pursue higher studies. They struggle to express what they already know. As a solution, the medium for higher education will shift to the mother tongue. This will enable students to focus more on the subject matter. Changes in higher education will open avenues for acquiring knowledge from diverse sources. Students unable to pursue higher studies due to financial constraints will be able to continue learning through online platforms. The credit system for studies across all sectors will be centralised, allowing for continuous education.
Dr Sahasrabudhe stated that examination questions will no longer pose a challenge to students. Instead, a new pattern involving the use of textbooks and replacing the traditional answering system with self-research-based responses will foster students’ talents. He called upon teachers and educational institutions to prepare themselves in accordance with the NEP.
T. Jayachandran, a member of the Janmabhumi director board, said on the occasion that Janmabhumi aims at the holistic development of the education sector. That is why the newspaper organised such a seminar in collaboration with various institutions. A “Nadivandan Yatra” (Pranams to the Rivers) will be organised under the leadership of Kummanam Rajasekharan, former Governor of Mizoram, in light of increasing river pollution.
Dr K. Sivaprasad, Vice Chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, which oversees 143 engineering colleges across the state, opined that NEP should be implemented to revive Kerala’s glorious educational past. Kerala has a legacy stretching from teaching children to write in sand on the floor to advanced astronomical studies with the naked eye. When the Thiruvitamcoor kingdom founded Kerala University, the then Diwan Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Iyer invited Nobel laureate Albert Einstein to take on the role of Vice Chancellor. That was the vision of the rulers of the time. But now, our children either leave the state or go abroad for their studies.
Kerala once enjoyed an education model that served as an inspiration even globally. Kanthalloor University rivalled Takshashila, while Kodungallur Kalari was another exemplary institution. The quality of research depends on the foundation laid by school education. The architects of the Chandrayaan Mission received their early education in government schools.
The Vice Chancellor added that, in earlier days, Kerala had teachers who understood the pulse of society. The NEP allows teaching not only by degree holders but also by experienced individuals with deep knowledge. This gives students the opportunity to learn about the dynamics of the world through diverse perspectives.
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