The School Education Department (SED) in Kashmir mostly faces a kind of serious scrutiny as the winter vacation is announced, bringing the first session of the March academic year to a close. As the institutions gear up for the reopening in March 2024, concerns loom over the department’s ability to meet the expectations outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The past academic session witnessed multiple problems on the front of streamlining school operations, with an imbalance observed between academic and extracurricular activities taking the center-stage. The NEP-2020 emphasises flexibility, offering opportunities for both academics and extracurricular pursuits. However, the department struggled to strike this balance, sidelining academics for weeks on in favour of prolonged celebrations and events.
Infrastructure concerns in government schools and a last-minute decision to announce winter vacations stirred controversy. While stakeholders advocated for the closure of kindergarten sections, the Directorate initially dismissed the idea, citing pleasant weather. The abrupt announcement, catching teachers off guard, underscored the need for better communication and planning.
Moreover, the failure to provide textbooks in time exposed another chink in the department’s armor. Students, in some schools, received textbooks as late as July or August, leaving them with a mere five months of access. This raises questions about the government’s decision to transition to a March session, a move not mandated by NEP 2020.
As the winter months are set in and schools remain closed, there is a clarion call for the School Education Department to learn from these missteps. The forthcoming academic session, post-March 2024, must witness meticulous planning and execution. The department should focus on ensuring the availability of textbooks well in advance, a crucial factor in the effective implementation of NEP 2020.
The need to strike a delicate balance between academic pursuits and extracurricular activities cannot be overstated. The department must engage in proactive collaboration with teachers to avoid a repeat of the previous academic session’s mistakes. The winter months should be a time for preparation, not only in terms of infrastructure but also in cultivating an environment conducive to quality education.
Two other important issues that need attention in schools are the availability of teachers right from the beginning of the new academic session. In previous years, we observed schools struggling due to a shortage of teachers, while those in towns and cities were overstaffed. In the upcoming academic session, the department should ensure that schools do not face the same problems. Utilizing the winter months to rationalize the teaching staff is crucial, and these teachers should be genuinely assigned to schools based on student requirements.
Let’s remain hopeful that the department devises a proper strategy to address these issues before the start of classwork.
In addition to addressing issues in the government sector, the education department should equally tackle concerns in the private educational sector. With the onset of winter, private schools are likely to begin the admission process. This process is often carried out at the discretion of private schools. The government should issue clear instructions in advance regarding the admission process, ensuring that no illegal capitation fees are collected without providing a receipt. Addressing the matter of charging annual fees in advance is equally important.
Furthermore, the government should resolve the issue of a common curriculum in both government and privately recognized schools in Kashmir, clarifying matters before the commencement of school activities.
To conclude, the School Education Department stands at a crucial juncture. The lessons from the past must guide future actions to fulfill the expectations set by NEP-2020. It’s time to embrace transformation, learn from mistakes, and pave the way for a more effective and student-centric education system in Kashmir.
The SED has an ardous task at hand. While on the one hand, the NEP implementation has changed the academic dynamics at school level, the expectations on the other hand are both realistic and worthy of attention at all levels. It is important that all issues impeding smooth implementation of NEP-2020 are addressed in priority so that the benefits of the flagship programme reach the students in their true sense.
Infrastructure gaps, lack of textbooks, shortage of teachers in rural areas must be among focal areas of the SED for academic session 2024 so that the implementation of NEP is realised in its true spirit. Eventually, NEP is a policy document only, and therefore it is the responsibility of the people at the helm of affairs to ensure smooth implementation by providing all required facilities. The SED must take cue from problems experienced in 2023 so that the same are addressed in 2024
NEP-2020 implementation in Schools: Challenges and Prospects
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27.11.2023
The School Education Department (SED) in Kashmir mostly faces a kind of serious scrutiny as the winter vacation is announced, bringing the first session of the March academic year to a close. As the institutions gear up for the reopening in March 2024, concerns loom over the department’s ability to meet the expectations outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
The past academic session witnessed multiple problems on the front of streamlining school operations, with an imbalance observed between academic and extracurricular activities taking the center-stage. The NEP-2020 emphasises flexibility, offering opportunities for both academics and extracurricular pursuits. However, the department struggled to strike this balance, sidelining academics for weeks on in favour of prolonged celebrations and events.
Infrastructure concerns in government schools and a last-minute decision to announce winter vacations stirred controversy. While stakeholders advocated for the closure of kindergarten sections, the Directorate initially dismissed the idea, citing pleasant weather. The abrupt announcement, catching teachers off guard, underscored the need for better communication and planning.
Moreover, the failure to provide textbooks in........
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