India needs to learn patriotism from Arunachal: Ngandam

RGU holds national education seminar

 

*Union Cabinet nods to withdraw non-detention policy: Prof Gupta

By Pradeep Kumar

RONO HILLS | Nov 23 |  “Arunachal has learnt so many things from mainland India, but India should learn patriotism from Arunachal Pradesh, where people greet each other with ‘Jai Hind’, Education Minister Honchung Ngandam today told educationists and research scholars from different parts of India and RGU faculty members in Rajiv Gandhi University campus here today.

“We give our hearts to India but show our backside to China though our faces match Chinese faces,” he said, adding Arunachal is an integral part of India and known as  “lungs of the universe” and “power house of India”.

Under scoring the importance of education, he, as chief guest, assured participants, attending a national seminar, themed “Reforming Indian education system”,that the seminar recommendations whichever possible, would be implemented by his department.

The inter-village school located at Pangchao has been upgraded to higher secondary level at this imitative, he said and credited his father, mother & teachers for making him first graduate of his assembly constituency Pongchao-Wakka when the students had high respect for their teachers, who used punish them with sticks. However,  now with changing time teachers cannot assault students for which the students neither have fear nor learn which, he feared, could make them wayward,” he said, adding  “lato ka bhoot, bato se nehi manta.” Present day students have been concentrating on dresses and styles not studies. Thus, he sought advice by incorporating health aspects as to how to bring the students to right path.

Health education is equally important as a dying man cannot serve. Students now are drug addicted and alcoholic and break the bottles on roads reflecting their destructive mentality. Thus, good mind needs good health, he said with conviction.

Highlighting new education initiatives, he said that Arunachal is the first state to introduce Smart Class as pilot project in 730 schools after inking MoU with EdCIL India Ltd for which CM Pema Khandu has sanctioned Rs 30 crore, learning outcome survey is on and a new policy will be formed, he informed.

The state in early days had misconception that the god had given education writing in skin which the locals ate away making Arunachalees illiterate, but we have overcome the misconception as state’s literacy rate today stands at 67%. Moreover, it is believed that Arunchalees are weak as 56 only had qualified for 58 teachers’ posts for Math & science. If Chinese, Japanese, Britishers are good in those subjects, why not Arunachalees? However,  the GoAP has relaxed recruitment policy to recruit Math & science teachers @  50:50 ratio, against 80:20 ratio, but he sought suggestion to remove this wrong concept.

Arunachal was first in NE India to oppose no-detention policy being very detrimental as it would knock down the goal of students, he said and wondered how could quality education be expected? Once they fail in interviews, they would become anti-social and anti-national.

While referring to Arunachal awarded by India Today as Best Performing Small Category State, he said it should not be a matter of complacency for which the streamlining process is on while the CM this year had increased the number of state award for teachers from  30 to 60 as an incentive. He also suggested  North East India Education Society (NEIES), organising the event in collaboration with the RGU, to invite politicians, bureaucrats to  make them part of the reform process.

Graduates used to get CO job directly during first Lt governor K A A Raja’s time which has become a dream now, he said hinting at changing time before concluding with: “Our forefathers told us what they were yesterday   for our good today. Now we tell our upcoming generations of what we are today for their better tomorrow,” to the thunderous applause of the gathering.

Reforming education system was advocated by Mahatma Gandhi to make children self-reliant and sustainable and the first education conference was held in Wardha in 1937 to lay the foundation with his farsighted vision of Nai Talim, Rajiv Gandhi University VC Prof Tamo Mibang said in his presidential address, adding the quality of higher education is poor as none of India’s 800 universities find place in world class list. Skill-based education tops planners agenda today, he said, adding annual technical manpower produced by India is equivalent to America’s total technical population. Though the VCs formulate new policies with two classes of thought – Mahatma Gandhi and Nehruvian philosophy, but India’s present education scenario showcases students’ and teachers’ agitation, youth restlessness, he said and called for changing the thought process by thorough introspection to change the education scenario.

Citing situations in India’s tribal dominated areas, he termed Meghalaya as a model while best teachers though posted in Arunachal are hardly found in schools which has paved the way for mushrooming of private schools. Drunk teachers never go to schools in most tribal areas, he reasoned. Availability of duplicate certificates reflects the dismal scenario, he said and hoped the congregated educationists projecting NE India as peaceful region  would recommend right steps for brining the much  desired reforms.

Indian education system in the fast changing scenario is facing man challenges which needs immediate reform,  NEIES president Prof P K Gupta, said in his key note address. He advocated utter need for its standardisation at national level to have fixed standard of international level for all states. “We should adopt 10+2+4 pattern to achieve standardisation  along with examination system to reform education system in true sense.” It would help standardise academic performances of students across the nation, Prof Gupta, who supervised 20 PhD scholars, said pointing out that from the age of people settling down along river banks, but now are seeking availability of internet connectivity. He cautioned that the generation is changing every six years.

Pointing out that no-detention policy contributed to education negatively, he said the Union Cabinet has decided to withdraw it and suggested to integrate vocations with academics from school level.

Terming 21st century, according to UNO, is to excel or exit, RGU education dean Prof Jayadeb Sahoo, while introducing the theme, said that India today has largest education system and consumer markets. If education, according Upanisahd, means it makes man courteous & polite. From that one gets competence & ability. From competence wealth comes while from wealth a person can perform his duties and righteous things. From righteous actions, a person can live happily.”

“Could we aspire for Indian Class Education which is service, society and life oriented than profit oriented and market oriented, he questioned and stress onon 3 Es-expansion, excellence and equity in education, importantly meditative awareness and young consciousness. He hoped that this conference would churn out  great ideas to influence the psyche of the education fraternity to remove the poison from most neglected system to turn education nectar.

“Coming together  is beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success” alone justifies the meaning of education,” said RGU education HoD Prof E Hangsing.

NEIES conducted its conference for third time here, said GS Prof C Nongbri while applauding the support of RGU including the VC.

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