SHILLONG: Shillong College recently organised a two-day national seminar where the guest of honor DP Wahlang, Principal Secretary, Department of Education raised the issue of framing an Education Policy in the state.
The seminar was held on the theme ‘NAAC Revised Accreditation Framework: Challenges and Opportunities with Special Reference to the North Eastern Region’.
Wahlang pointed out that the statistics in India revealed a sizable number of children below the age of 18 years in schools, however, only a fraction manage to pursue higher studies.
He attributed this to unmindful, obsolete courses which equip youngsters only for lower clerical jobs, leading to depression and increased suicide rates.
“To overcome these issues, an education policy for our state needs to be in place,” he said.
“A new curriculum with a more flexible framework, pragmatic teacher preparation and finally the importance of institutional leadership needs to be developed,” said Wahlang.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui who was present as the chief guest highlighted on the importance of the seminar in his inaugural address and reiterated the need for preparing the road map in setting up a new framework for assessment and accreditation along with a normative pattern which would bring change in setting new trends for quality education.
He noted that the technical sessions of the conference will equip participants from various institutions with the know-how to foresee and prepare for the new regulation to be implemented as per the guidelines of the Higher Education Council, with a thrust to improving higher education in the North Eastern Region.
The valedictory function was graced by SK Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, North Eastern Hill University.
The two-day national seminar was attended by the principals and faculty members of rural and urban colleges in the state.