Tura, Oct 4: Discussions at regional workshop on National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) syllabus in Tura stressed the need for teachers to become more actively involved in research.
Faculty members were encouraged to pursue research at a broader academic level while also undertaking PhD programmes to strengthen their academic expertise.
The first-ever regional workshop on the key subjects in Garo Hills has provided an opportunity for teachers and academic experts to discuss the practical challenges of implementing the new higher education framework.
Organised at PASF Abong Noga College, New Tura, the workshop also marked the first opportunity for the Department of History, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, to directly interact with teachers in Garo Hills and understand the difficulties they are facing with the implementation of NEP 2020 and FYUGP.
A key area of discussion was the fourth year of the undergraduate programme, particularly the requirements that faculty members need to fulfil to teach the seventh and eighth semesters.
The workshop also clarified the academic pathways available to students under the new system.
Students interested in research may continue into the fourth year, while those who complete the three-year undergraduate programme can opt for a two-year Master’s programme.
Another important issue discussed was the interpretation of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS).
Speakers pointed out that IKS should not be understood only in the context of classical Indian knowledge traditions but should also encompass Indigenous Knowledge Systems rooted in local communities.
The responsibility for documenting and researching these knowledge traditions, participants noted, rests significantly with local scholars and communities.
Teachers and researchers were encouraged to produce research papers and books documenting indigenous knowledge before such knowledge systems are lost or remain undocumented.
The workshop thus brought the discussion on NEP 2020 and FYUGP beyond policy provisions, focusing on the challenges teachers face on the ground and the need to strengthen research and documentation of local knowledge in the region.
