UP to get Harvard experts, MP goes for mother tongue — how states are implementing NEP

Haryana's announced free education for underprivileged girls, Karnataka working on improving administrative aspects of institutions, according to presentations made to Union govt.

Representational image of a school classroom in Prayagraj | ANI

New Delhi: While Uttar Pradesh plans to get its college teachers trained by experts from Harvard University, Haryana is considering offering free education to underprivileged girl students as part of its National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 implementation plans, ThePrint has learnt.

This was discussed at two meetings — the first held in Dharamshala in June and the other in Delhi earlier this month — during which the states and Union territories informed the education ministry about their plans for implementation of the policy.

Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have listed the highest number of initiatives, according to sources in the ministry and state officials who were present in the two meetings.

Some of the initiatives listed by the states are in the process of being implemented, while others already have been, in accordance with the policy, the sources added.

Launched on July 29, 2020, the NEP “proposes the revision and revamping of all aspects of the education structure, including its regulation and governance, to create a new system that is aligned with the aspirational goals of 21st century education while building upon India’s traditions and value systems”.

Uttar Pradesh

In its presentation, Uttar Pradesh informed the education ministry that it was in the process of taking help from experts from Harvard University for training their college teachers. For this purpose, the state government will sign an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with the American university.

“The state has also planned to set up e-content studios and incubation centres in colleges and universities. They have expressed a lot of interest in working on improving technology in learning in higher education,” an official who attended the meeting told ThePrint, not wanting to be named.

“Colleges will also work to provide a mandatory internship to undergraduate students in both technical and non-technical courses. This is in accordance with the University Grants Commission (UGC) rules,” the official added.

Haryana 

The Haryana government had announced free education for girls up to the post-graduation level in April. This finds mention as one of the biggest plans of the state for NEP implementation as well.

In its presentation, the state government said it will provide free education to underprivileged girls and those belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Class (OBC) categories.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had announced in March that the state will be the first in the country to bridge the language barrier and provide undergraduate medical and engineering courses in Hindi from April.

In its presentation, the state said that it is focussing on increasing the employability of students in colleges and universities and that it introduced job-oriented courses in agriculture and tourism to boost employability.

Karnataka 

According to Karnataka’s higher education minister, C. N. Ashwath Narayan, the first step was developing the curriculum framework. “Content was designed as per aspirations and guidelines of the NEP, and all universities implemented the learning method,” Narayan told ThePrint over phone.

Karnataka was the first state to implement the NEP in August 2021.

The higher education department has been focussing on improving the governance and administrative aspects in institutions. The state is amending its universities Act in this regard, Narayan said, adding that the draft for the Karnataka State Universities Act 2022, which suggests sweeping reforms in the higher education space, was ready.

The Karnataka State Public Higher Education Institutions Bill, proposing to give complete autonomy to higher education institutions, to reduce government control over them significantly and to make them function on the lines of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), is ready to be tabled in the state assembly.

Andhra Pradesh

According to officials who attended the meetings on NEP implementation, the Andhra Pradesh government said it was focussing on education for underprivileged students, including helping those who want to pursue education abroad.

Under the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena scheme, the government will provide financial assistance to eligible candidates to complete professional and graduate courses.

In July, Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced that all private schools in the state will implement the 25 per cent quota for students from economically weaker sections, under the Right to Education Act.

(Edited by Tony Rai)