SHILLONG: Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Thursday said that the HRD Ministry has instituted a task force under UGC and NCERT which is working on the various guidelines with focus on the safety of the students.
Pokhriyal was addressing a live webinar with the on ‘Turning challenges into opportunities to combat the threat of COVID-19’.
NEHU Vice-Chancellor, SK Srivastava, along with the pro vice-chancellor, registrar and director, Internal Quality Assurance Cell had also attended the webinar.
The webinar was also attended by more than 40,000 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country.
As per the guidelines, the universities would begin the examinations in July and final semester examinations would be conducted. In case the situation in the zone was still not conducive for the examination, measures would be taken to find alternatives, he assured.
“The calendar is not only aimed at education but also the safety of students. College exams will begin from July but during the exams, social distancing will be maintained. We will take suggestions from the Ministry of Home Affairs on this issue,” the HRD minister said.
He said 4,70,000 people have downloaded the app for JEE Main and NEET practice. “However, the change is here and we have to now discuss online education. We have managed to bring our education to the internet and on broadcast channels (Swayam Prabha). Crores of students have used Diksha and ePathshala. Swayam is now the largest platform in the world of its kind,” he told the webinar.
Pokhriyal congratulated the education system for moving forward despite hardships being faced. “I am proud to say that the education department has continued its work even during this difficult time. Every minute was used to ensure that students are not only educated but also motivated and encouraged throughout the process during this difficult time,” he said.
Pokhriyal also said that with education moving online, rural areas students could be reached through TV.
Turning to research, the HRD minister said a new programme on promoting research in the country would soon be started.
“The Prime Minister’s Research Fellows (PMRF) is already addressing the issues. The institutes, teachers and students have all stepped up to accept the challenges presented by COVID-19. Our NITs and IITs have worked on various technologies to help the country,” he said. (With Inputs From UNI)
