Advisories issued for teaching and non-teaching staff of universities, colleges
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has launched National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in universities and colleges of the State. Under NEP 2020, a four-year under graduate programme with eight semesters has been introduced in all higher education institutions. To bring vibrancy to the collegiate system, the Higher Education Department has issued two advisories for the teaching and non-teaching staff of universities, provincialized colleges and government colleges. According to these advisories, university and college professors must devote a minimum of 40 hours of work per week to their respective institutes.
According to an advisory issued by the Higher Education Department, the working hours of provincialized/ government/PDUAM colleges of Assam is preponed to 9 AM from the existing 10 AM so that the overall working period becomes 9 AM to 5 AM. The tiffin/lunch hour is scheduled from 1 PM to 2 PM.
The attendance of the faculty members should be regularly ensured through technical intervention as mentioned in the college service rules. But some flexibility should be provided so that the faculty members can visit the libraries and attend assigned activities within and outside the campus.
The stipulated contact hours in teaching and other defined activities should be carried out in letter and spirit. The teachers should be assigned library hours for the students and research scholars, which will help activate the departmental libraries. Interactive research hours for faculty members should be a total of four hours on two weekdays.
Examination, both internal as well as external, should be taken seriously. There should be a definite model for conducting internal examinations and returning evaluated scripts within a stipulated time frame. The evaluation of the scripts of the external examination and declaration of the results should also be completed timely. Defaulters need to be made accountable.
Answer scripts need to be checked and returned to the students within 7 days of examination. The evaluation of the answer scripts is to be completed within 15 days from the date of completion of the examination, and the result should be published within one month. There must be an appraisal meeting on mentoring of students once a month. Report on these appraisal meetings as part of the Academic Module should be uploaded to the Samarth eGov portal.
According to another advisory, the colleges and universities of the State should create an enabling environment for quality higher education, and develop knowledgeable, thoughtful, well-rounded, and creative individuals who would, along with personal accomplishment and enlightenment, have constructive public engagement and productive contributions to the nation.
The teachers should motivate the students and make them competent in one or more specialized areas of interest at a deep level, and help to develop character, ethical and Constitutional values, intellectual curiosity, scientific temper, creativity, and spirit of service. Teachers should take the responsibility to create socially sensitive citizens and take initiatives towards social entrepreneurship and community engagement through certain development activities in adopted settlements with the involvement of the students.
Teachers need to keep time for doubt-clearing sessions, one-to-one discussions on personal life and aspirations, mentoring and guiding to keep the enthusiasm level high, discussion on contemporary concerns on developments to make students sensible and responsible, engage in organizational matters related to students’ participation in literary, sports, cultural and social activities.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has already stipulated a minimum of 40 hours of work per week to be devoted at the institute, of which 16 hours is for direct classroom teaching. Accordingly, a teacher should devote about 7 to 8 hours to the institution, and the rest of the time needs to be rationally divided for students’ and personal accomplishment, and progress of the institution.
Regarding the advisories, State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu tweeted, “The @higherednassam deptt has issued an Advisory to all provincialised/Govt./PDUAM Colleges of Assam for bringing vibrancy to the collegiate system and implementing NEP-2020 in its letter and spirit. Duties, responsibilities and schedules have been defined as per NEP and UGC norms. @CMOfficeAssam.”
In another tweet he wrote, “NEP suggests measures for Motivated, Energised, and Capable Faculties in HEIs. @higherednassam deptt has issued an advisory to all Universities and Colleges for duties and responsibilities as per NEP & @ugc_india norms and guidelines. @CMOfficeAssam @ngmahanta @GauhatiUni @DibruUniv.”
Also WATCH: