'Challenges in education sector can be overcome with NEP 2020'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: There are many challenges in the education sector of Assam. With the implementation of the New Education Policy of India 2020 (NEP 2020) from the 2022-23 academic session, the Assam State Primary Teachers' Association has expressed hope that the challenges in the education sector will be overcome to a large extent.

Assam State Primary Teachers' Association general secretary Ratul Chandra Goswami, while talking to The Sentinel, said that the challenges in the State's education sector must be met with the help of NEP 2020. "The drop-out rate in Assam is a matter of great concern. As per a report of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, in Assam, around 78,000 children have not been to school. Considering the pandemic situation, this number has probably increased. Bringing these children to school so that they can get educated is a big challenge," said Goswami.

According to information from United District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE)+ 2019-20, the retention rate in government schools in the State keeps falling from lower classes to higher classes. The UDISE+ report says the retention rate at the primary level in the State was 76.8 against the national rate of 86.97. The retention rate at the elementary level was 62.9 in the State against the national rate of 74.59. It was 39.47 at the secondary level in the State against the national rate of 59.55, and the retention rate at the higher secondary level in the State is just 17.24 against the national rate of 40.17.

Goswami further said that according to a national report, 65 per cent of the total number of schools in the country is under the public sector while 35 per cent are private schools. In Assam, around 80 per cent schools are public sector and 20 per cent are private sector. "The Assam Government has amalgamated and merged many government schools. While taking such measures, it must be ensured that the number of government schools does not decrease," he said.

According to a report of the National Institute for Public Administration, the teaching hours (hours spent teaching students) of teachers constitute about 19.1 per cent. "In Assam, the teaching hours of teachers are affected because the government engages teachers in other works like election duty. The number of teaching hours must be increased and this can be done only if the government stops engaging teachers for other work so that they can devote their time to only classroom teaching," said Goswami.

He also said that there were some points in the NEP 2020 which needed clarity. "It is mentioned that the medium of instruction in schools must be the local language and mother tongue. In Assam, different places have different local languages. So the medium of instruction should be the mother tongue. Also, the government should stop appointing contractual teachers. Contractual teachers live in uncertainty and this affects their teaching," said Goswami. He also added that teachers must be given training before implementing NEP 2020.

Also Read: 31st December in Guwahati: Hotels, Bars and Restaurants Can Remain Open Till Midnight

Also Watch: