SHILLONG, Aug 2: Amid the confusion prevailing over the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday said the state has no option but to go ahead with it.
He, however, said the government cannot bulldoze its way through and will talk to teachers and other stakeholders to move forward.
Admitting that the implementation of the NEP is challenging in terms of manpower and the infrastructure required, Sangma said there will always be challenges before any kind of transition.
He said the government would take steps to extend support for the implementation of the NEP in all government colleges.
The government would also see how it can support the deficit and ad hoc colleges run by management committees and sponsors, he added.
“There will be a lot of such colleges and we cannot just give a blanket green signal that we will do everything. The management committees and the college sponsors will have to work hand in hand with the government to make it happen,” Sangma said.
Pointing out that all colleges would eventually have to move ahead with the NEP and the Education Department and NEHU would discuss the matter on a case-to-case basis, the chief minister insisted there is no opposition to NEP in the state. This policy is in the best interest of the students despite the challenges, he said.
The State Higher Educational Council is expected to convene a meeting on August 10 or 11 with NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prabha Shankar Shukla and the heads of other institutes to remove the confusion over the implementation of the NEP.
