SHILLONG, Aug 1: The North-Eastern Hill University Students’ Union (NEHUSU) and the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Tuesday suggested NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla to engage with various stakeholders to break the deadlock caused by the current impasse over the implementation of the NEP in the state.
After meeting the VC, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin told reporters they suggested on holding a common meeting involving teachers’ organisations, NEHUSU, Education department officials and members of various civil society groups to deliberate on the issue and find a solution.
He asked why all affiliated colleges in the state are up for the “herculean” task of implementing NEP. Further, he asked if the NEHU is capable of providing academic support to the colleges.
“What will happen to the colleges which lack financial resources and manpower and those which do not have books and study materials required for both students and teachers? We would like to know if the university gave a second thought on all these issues being faced by most colleges in the state,” Kharjahrin said.
He said the move will affect the students indirectly as the colleges will have no option but to raise fees in the absence of government support to them.
“This will be a huge problem. We do not want to see students drop out because they cannot afford to pay fees. If colleges have to hire new teachers and staff, they will have to raise fees,” the HYC president said.
NEHUSU finance secretary, Mandor B Diengdoh Swer said they managed to convince the VC to call for the meeting of all stakeholders as the state is divided on NEP’s implementation.
“The MCTA has decided to boycott classes of first semester of undergraduate students. We don’t want to see these students suffer. We ask the VC to convene the meeting in the coming week to discuss all issues relating to the implementation of NEP,” Swer said.
He pointed out that the subjects, to be offered to the students as mentioned in the notification which was sent to college principals, are different from those approved by NEHU’s Academic Council. He said these are some of the issues which require rectification.
Stating that they are not against NEP’s implementation, NEHUSU vice president Easterson Sohtun said they want all colleges to implement NEP at the same time.
“We have not softened our stand since the proposal to implement the policy in a hybrid mode is not acceptable. We don’t want the students to suffer. Any policy, which is to be implemented, should not create division among the students,” Sohtun stressed.
Prof Shukla reiterated the 105th Executive Council had approved the adoption of NEP in its meeting held in 2020, adding this was based on the recommendations of the 104th Academic Council.
He said the 104th Academic Council meeting had also approved the setting up of a task force for the effective implementation of NEP.
He clarified that the Academic Council only approved the rules and regulations and the ordinance for the implementation of the new education policy.
“The Academic Council is not in a position to take a decision on the execution of NEP. The decision to implement the policy lies with the Executive Council,” Prof Shukla said.
Further, he said NEHU is ready to provide all support in terms of training for the implementation of the policy.
“This is not an issue since we are already late by three years. We implemented NEP for PG students last year. We have already indicated that the implementation of NEP for the undergraduate courses will start from the 2023-2024 academic session,” the NEHU VC said.
He underscored that they conducted some 35 meetings to discuss the implementation of the policy. He claimed that a majority of the 73 college principals, who attended the meeting that he convened, are ready to implement NEP.
“There are a few colleges which expressed their inability. Let others, who are ready, start implementing it. Those who are not ready can join in the next semester,” Prof Shukla said.
To a query, he said he will convene a common meeting as suggested by the NEHUSU and the HYC before the Independence Day celebration.
“I am ready to meet MCTA to discuss before this common meeting to find an amicable solution to the problem. There is no question of going (back) since this is being done for the benefit of the students,” he said.
He said he cannot officially invite the members of MCTA since it does not fall under NEHU’s jurisdiction.
