SHILLONG, Aug 18: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has sought a resolution to the impasse surrounding the implementation of National Education Policy 2020 in the best interest of students in the state.
After meeting North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) Vice Chancellor, Prabha Shankar Shukla on Friday, KSU assistant secretary, Reuben Najiar told reporters the students are suffering due to the standoff between the Meghalaya College Teachers’ Association (MCTA) and the NEHU.
“We have got the copy of the minutes of the meeting where a majority of college principals had agreed to implement NEP. But the college teachers are not ready to cooperate with this decision. As such, the students are bearing the brunt of it,” Najiar said.
He said they are aware of the discrepancies in the implementation of NEP, stating that there is a problem in the syllabus while study materials for the students are not available. Till now, there are also no proper guidelines from the university, he said.
“We are also aware that there are colleges which are not yet ready,” the KSU leader said, adding it was important for the VC to resolve the various grievances raised by the college teachers.
“We have impressed upon the VC that any concern raised by the teachers should be rectified. The egos of the university and the various stakeholders should not hamper the students,” Najiar said.
He said the VC assured them that the latter was ready to meet any group opposed to NEP’s implementation.
Responding to a query, Najiar said they had mentioned to the VC the latter’s statement that he cannot invite the MCTA for a discussion since it does not fall under his jurisdiction.
“But the VC told us that this does not mean that college teachers cannot come to meet him to discuss the difficulties and problems in the implementation of NEP,” he said.
Meanwhile, the KSU appealed to the state government to convene a meeting between the MCTA and the NEHU to resolve the grievances of the college teachers amicably.
Najiar insisted that there must be an end to the stalemate since first semester students are attending classes but there are no teachers.
The KSU is likely to meet Education Minister, Rakkam A Sangma to request him to convene the meeting of MCTA, NEHU and other stakeholders to resolve the issue. The students’ organisation urged the VC to give preference to indigenous tribals of Meghalaya while filling up various vacant posts during the ongoing recruitment process in NEHU.
“We are happy because the VC assured us that preference would be given to local indigenous tribal candidates,” Najiar said.
He said they also flagged the issue of the Screening Committee rejecting the applications of many candidates without citing any valid reasons.
According to him, there are applicants who fulfil the criteria of UGC regulations on minimum qualification for appointment as teachers and other academic staff in the university and colleges.
“But their applications were rejected without any valid reason. Despite queries, the university failed to provide any clarification,” Najiar said.
He said the applications of some were cleared and the candidates were supposed to appear before the Screening Committee but the same was never communicated to them.
According to him, some statutory posts, including that of Registrar, Finance Officer, etc., have been lying vacant for a long time, affecting the smooth functioning of the university.
Najiar said they impressed upon the VC to urgently address such pressing matters.
