MARGAO
Saying the National Education Policy (NEP) has recommended sharing knowledge of the State and its rich culture, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday underscored the need to document Goa’s unique traditional knowledge rooted in the villages.
Addressing the two-day Silver Jubilee National Conference of the Association of Indian College Principals (AICP) at the V M Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education at Raia organised by the Forum of Principals and the Representatives of Managements of Non-Government Colleges in Goa on Friday, the Chief Minister has expressed happiness that government bodies are working towards the documentation process of Goa’s traditional knowledge which will help the students to understand its historical perspective and utility.
He further said the initiative of forming college clusters is presently underway in Goa, adding this will help in sharing of resources in the field of higher education. The Chief Minister further said that the Goa University is working on the finalisation of structure for 3 and 4-year UG programme, adding that the process to complete the work is being done on priority. He reminded that NEP states that higher education should enable development of an enlightened, social conscious, knowledgeable and skilled nation that can find and implement robust solution to its own problem.
Saying that the NEP policy has been finalised after due thought and deliberations after obtaining feedback, Sawant said, “This is nothing less than revolution in the making, a revolution that is about to transform the entire country.”
He said some of the aspects in the policy has impressed him the most was that the policy is entirely student-centric, that it gives the students the flexibility to choose their own place of learning, and decide when to exit, take a break and join back for further studies. “There is a provision in the policy which speaks of multi-disciplinary education, which enables the students to explore the nuances of education other than to choose discipline,” he said.
Saying that the NEP has introduced a path breaking initiative in vocational education from school to the college level, the Chief Minister said the vocation courses are being given the same weightage as regular courses, equipping the students with skills for employment or to start their own enterprise. “Since internship is part of the curriculum, it will provide the students to gain vital work experience during the degree level programme. The institutions may provide deserving students with jobs,” he said, adding that Academic Bank of Credit will help to store the credit earned by the students.
The Chief Minister further said though the economy has been growing at a fast pace, the focus of attention should be on sustainable development. “For this, society need critical thinkers and provide solutions to meet the challenges. It has now become the task of the teaching community to create critical thinkers to meet the future challenges,” he said.
Sawant reminded that the Goa government has tied up with the industry for internship and placement for the students, exuding confidence that this will help the students to get jobs.
The conference is organised in collaboration with the Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, and V M Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education, Raia-Manora.
