All must resolve to transform Assam into one of the top five States of India: Dr Ranoj Pegu

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: All stakeholders must resolve to transform Assam into one of the top five States of India through an efficient Higher Education system, appealed State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu during a daylong workshop on 'Higher Education Reforms' here on Friday.

The workshop was organized by the Higher Education Department at the premises of NEDFI House, Guwahati.

Speaking on the occasion as the Chief Guest, Minister Pegustressed the need for a paradigmatic change in the Higher Education sector following the guidelines of NEP (National Education Policy)-2020. He called upon the Higher Education Institutions to mentor the feeder schools to ensure the entry of better-quality students into the U.G and P.G levels.

He also assured them that similar meetings will be arranged shortly to arrive at a broad-based and fruitful conclusion regarding the policies to be adopted for the betterment of the Higher Education System in the State.

The discussion focussed on the uniform grading pattern, common academic calendar, unique SOP for continuous evaluation and model curricula for core courses.

Addressing the gathering as the Guest of Honour, Adviser to the Education Department — Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta assured the participants that all their views and feedback will be duly processed and taken into account while moving ahead on the part of reforms in the sector in Assam.

Principal Secretary, Education Department, Dr Kalyan B. Chakravarty emphasised the significance of Higher Education for the development of the State.

The focus was also laid on the need to restructure the stereotypical teaching-learning system by transforming it into a vibrant, dynamic and futuristic system to achieve the goals and objectives as visualized in the NEP-2020. The need for a more learner-centric system affording maximum flexibility to both the students and the teachers was highlighted in the discussions.

The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of Higher Education, Assam, Dr Deepak Mazumdar; and the Director of Higher Education, Assam, Dharmakanta Mili, besides other officials of the Higher Education Department.

Among the dignitaries who participated in the discussions were the VCs (Vice-Chancellors) including that of Cotton University, Prof. Bhabesh Chandra Goswami; Bhattadev University, Prof. Birinchi Kumar Das; Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit & Ancient Studies University, Prof. Dipak Sarma; Rabindranath Tagore University, Prof. Amalendu Chakravarty; Madhabdev University, Prof. Dibakar Deka; and the VC of Assam Women University, Dr Ajanta Borgohain Rajkonwar.

The delegates who participated in the workshop included the officials of Dibrugarh University and KK Handique State Open University; Prof. Rajib Handique, Dean of Arts, Gauhati University; Prof. Chandan Sarma of Tezpur University; noted academicians, Principals of three Autonomous Colleges; and also the president and the general secretary of ACTA (Assam College Teachers' Association) — Biswajit Bhuyan and Himangshu Maral respectively.

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