By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 10: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday stressed the need for policy clarity, youth empowerment, contextual understanding and feedback from colleges as he referred to the education-related challenges in Meghalaya.
Speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural session of a three-day workshop on NEP 2020, he reflected on the transformative changes introduced by the policy while noting persistent challenges regarding terrain and accessibility in Meghalaya.
Rymbui highlighted government efforts over the past seven and a half years to extend educational access to rural areas but observed that established colleges continue to face structural difficulties.
Addressing the gathering, he discussed the hurdles posed by CUET, the Academic Bank of Credit and policy inconsistencies.
He then pointed to gaps concerning primary education and the difficulties in implementing the four-year undergraduate programme due to the lack of a clear framework.
The ‘Orientation and Sensitisation for College Principals and Vice Principals in the North East Region’ workshop is jointly organised by the Department of Training and Professional Development in Education, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi, and the Department of Sociology, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). The event also marks the golden jubilee of the Department of Sociology at NEHU.
Delivering her address, Programme Director Prof. Neeru Snehi reflected on the importance of effective implementation of the NEP 2020. She offered an overview of NIEPA, established in 1962, and said that the workshop aims to promote constructive dialogue and strengthen colleges as innovative educational spaces.
In her keynote address, Dr. Sherwin Syngoh outlined the aims and framework of the policy, focusing on its relevance to the Northeast. She highlighted the shift toward flexibility, multidisciplinary learning and academic-focused leadership, while also discussing the need for action plans suited to the region’s context.
The session was attended by principals and vice-principals from various institutes across the region, including St. Mary’s College, Khrawsing College, Maharaja Bodhchandra College (Manipur) and Mt. Zion College.
The three-day programme will feature twelve technical sessions focusing on implementation processes.
