Dimapur, Sep 18 (PTI) A region-specific framework for implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in the Northeast, including separate norms for hilly areas and greater coordination among the eight states, emerged as a key focus at the two-day Northeast Education Conclave 2026.
The two-day conclave organised by the Department of Higher Education, Nagaland got underway in Chumoukedima district on the theme ‘Implementation of NEP 2020: Vision, Challenges & Opportunities for the North Eastern states’.
It has brought together policymakers, educators and administrators from across the Northeast.
Delivering the keynote address, Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Jagadish K Patnaik called for contextual and inclusive educational transformation in the Northeast.
He highlighted accessibility, equity, quality, flexibility, multilingualism and holistic development as key priorities of NEP 2020 and stressed the need to convert indigenous knowledge into academic strength while upgrading skills through technology.
Patnaik also flagged funding as a major concern, noting that while NEP envisages substantially higher investment in education, the mechanism for mobilising the required resources remains unclear.
Mizoram Education Minister Dr Vanlalthlana suggested that the Northeast education ministers meet twice a year under the North Eastern Council (NEC) and submit joint proposals on schemes based on a common assessment of the region’s needs.
He said most provisions under NEP and the Right to Education (RTE) Act were designed with plain areas in mind and called for a separate index and system for hilly areas, particularly in the Northeast, along with separate construction norms for hill areas.
Vanlalthlana also pointed to declining enrolment in government schools across the region. In Nagaland, he said, government schools account for around 80 per cent of the total schools but have only about 33 per cent of enrolment.
Nagaland Higher Education and Tourism Minister Temjen Imna Along said the conclave was aimed at bringing together the experiences, challenges and possible solutions of the region to evolve a comprehensive approach for implementing NEP 2020.
He said degrees alone were no longer sufficient to ensure employment and stressed the need to examine the impact of academic education and encourage critical thinking.
Along also raised the question of incorporating Christian studies into university curricula in the Northeast, particularly in states such as Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, where Christianity has a significant presence. He clarified that the discussion was about curriculum and academic study rather than religious institutions.
Tripura Higher Education and Panchayats Minister Kishor Barman said NEP 2020 represented not merely an education policy but a change in the way education is approached.
He stressed the need to keep students connected with their language, culture and traditions while equipping them with artificial intelligence, digital technology, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and other skills.
“Northeast India is not a distant corner of India. Northeast India is an important strength of India—in knowledge, culture, innovation and in human resources,” Barman said, adding that while roots should remain in the region, aspirations should be global.
Assam Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu stressed the need to integrate skills with knowledge, saying knowledge alone could not make students employable.
He said IT, media and technology literacy had become essential 21st-century skills across disciplines, while research and innovation were critical to achieving the country’s development goals by 2047.
Arunachal Pradesh MLA-cum-Advisor to the HME Mutchu Mithi cautioned that decisions taken in the education sector would have far-reaching consequences for future generations and said every decision should be assessed for its long-term impact.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, in a message read out by Along, said the conclave provided a platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences on opportunities and challenges confronting the education sector.
He expressed hope that the deliberations would strengthen the region’s educational ecosystem and help prepare young people with the knowledge, skills, values and confidence needed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world.
The two-day conclave is expected to work towards a collaborative framework among the northeastern states for sharing best practices, institutional resources and capacity-building initiatives. PTI CORR NBS NBS RG
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