PANAJI
He has been the fulcrum of Goa's education officialdom, first officiating as the Director of Higher Education and on elevation to the prestigious IAS cadre, doubling up as the Secretary (Education). A hands-on bureaucrat, Prasad Lolayenkar, IAS, took time off to speak to The Goan on the ongoing bumpy ride the education ministry is navigating to implement the new National Education Policy (NEP) in schools at the Class IX level from the current academic year.
THE GOAN: What are the challenges being faced in getting the entire State's school system to adopt the NEP?
PRASAD LOLAYENKAR: There are no major challenges, just misunderstandings which we are ironing out. We are engaging with management teams of every school. We have just finished this first round of engagement with schools, taluka-wise. Each school was dealt with individually by our team and all their queries answered.
We have assured schools short of resources to take up the new areas (subjects) introduced that the education department will provide the specialised trained teachers as far as possible.
TG: What about infrastructure needed? Are the schools in a position to set it up?
PL: Whatever infrastructural inputs are needed, we have informed the schools that the department will provide and install. The additional laboratories that are needed for the new activity-based teaching-learning process and environmental studies will all be provided by us. Schools will only have to provide the space on their premises.
TG: The actual classroom proceedings under the NEP are drastically different from the old system. Is the teaching community up to the challenge of adapting to the new style?
PL: Teachers will have to make an effort. We are putting in all efforts to provide training. One batch of 80 teachers is already undergoing a training programme at Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru.
We are also bringing in a top expert from the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) to train a set of our 'master trainers' who will in turn embark on training all the teachers across schools in Goa.
TG: During the engagement with schools, what are some of the issues and difficulties being raised by the schools?
PL: The most common apprehension voiced by schools is that the NEP has added extra hours which is a misconception. There are no extra hours added but we have left the choice to opt for full-day school with the management of the school. It is up to them and there is no compulsion.
