By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 13: Meghalaya is slowly but steadily preparing to adopt the new National Education Policy (NEP).
Approved by the Union Cabinet last year, it aims at transforming the education system and enhancing the quality of education for all.
The replacement of the 34-year-old education system is being seen by many as another major move in the direction of strengthening India as a global power.
An official of the Education department said the state, willy-nilly, has to follow NEP. Stating that the recommendations are far-reaching and call for transformational steps, the official added that the government has set up some committees and working groups to take the implementation forward.
The time for complete adoption of NEP is till 2030 and the state government is optimistic about meeting all commitments before that.
Asked about poor educational infrastructure in the state, especially in rural areas, the official said the government is upgrading infrastructure in a phase-wise manner. This year itself, more than 200 new institutions are being built, the official added.
These are government institutions and the condition of most of them is dilapidated.
Some major highlights of NEP are that all higher educational institutes, excluding medical and law colleges, will be governed by a single regulator.
Board exams will be more application and knowledge-based, public and private higher education institutes will be governed under the same norms, school curriculum will focus more on core concepts and 10+2 study culture will discontinue and the new structure of 5+3+3+4 will be followed, subject to respective age group of 3-8, 8-11, 11-14 and 14-18 years.