In a persuasive and knowledgeably thought-provoking seminar on implementing New Education Policy-2020, focusing on Schools of Maharashtra. The seminar was hosted by Dr Ambedkar, Chair at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Museum and Memorial, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), on 23rd March 2024. This meeting was in a hybrid mode, where the presenter exposited their ground experiences, analysis and initiatives concerning the NEP 2020 through the online and physical modes. Students and academicians from Savitribai Phule Pune University attended the programme SPPU and SNDT, along with a few professionals. It started with garlanding Dr Ambedkar's portrait and guests paying their tributes to him. The Guest of Honour, Mrs. Sanjeevani Majumdar, wished the program success.
The special guest, Prof. Jyoti Chandiramani discussed the importance of providing quality education.
While sharing the ideas to address the gathering by Dr Ambedkar Chair, Prof Ajay Choudhary emphasised the need to critically understand and engage with the New Education Policy 2020. He also highlighted the role of language and the need for a rational mind for education to be rooted in society. The entire day programme was divided into three sessions; where in the first two sessions, the presenters talked about their findings and analysis of the New Education Policy 2020, while the third session was a round table open discussion based on the discussion, a report will be presented before the Government of Maharashtra for a proper and expansive implementation of NEP 2020.
Prof. Surendra Jondhale chaired the first session. The first presentation was done by Mr Amit Narkar, who spoke on Bridging the Gap: An Assessment of School Infrastructure in Adivasi Areas of Maharashtra. He brought out the promises from the Karachi Congress Resolution 1931. He highlighted the areas for improvement in implementing the policy at the ground level regarding the infrastructure and teacher-to-student ratio based on the survey they conducted among the Zila Parishad schools in Mokhada Taluka in Palghar district.
The second speaker was Mr. Kishore Darak, who talked about Samooh Shala (Mis)reading NEP to deny RTE, pointing out that Bankers and Managers handle education.
Dr Gargee Mitra talked about the NEP initiatives at Symbiosis: A Journey into Foundational Frolics, highlighting the initiatives taken in the functioning Symbiosis Schools. The administration has revised the educational structure in 5+3+3+4 years, focusing on Holistic development through Flexible learning pathways. The initiative of Vidya Pravesh, a play-based school preparation module for Grade 1 with three goals of good health and wellbeing, effective communication, and involved learning, has been taken up. This is carried on by a five-step pedagogy at Symbiosis Schools based on Prior Knowledge Assessment/Provocation, Concept building, Reinforcement, Assessments, and Reflection.
The session was followed by interjections, experience sharing and informed questions by the audience.
Mr. Amit Narkar chaired the second session. Advt. Rupali Kadlak presented on Decoding of NEP 2020 education and Pedagogy of school education, where she looked at the shift from one educational policy to another and analysed the changes that NEP 2020 intends to bring in the system, marking it as a break from earlier policies.
Priyanka Kadlak - राष्ट्रीय शैशनिक धोरण 2020 भविष्य वेधि शिक्षणं She is a primary teacher at a government school in ZPPS Kaman, Pune. She narrated her experience working in government schools in rural areas of Pune. She showed her concern about the educational and economic status of the students. Parents' awareness about the education of their children. She also talked about how this NEP will be implemented in this situation.
Rajashri Tikhe will be talking about the Application of the NEP in the context of tribal residential ashram schools)
Mandar Shinde focused majorly on Chapter 3 of the NEP 2020 with the idea of Curtailing Dropout Rates and Ensuring Universal Access to Education with reference to SARTHAQ and RTE Act 2009. He critically examined the changes in the different drafts that the government brought out and how, till the final draft, it undermined the Right to Education Act 2009, specifically on the issue of free and compulsory education.
Post lunch, in the third session, there was an open round table discussion among the presenters and the audience on implementing NEP and submitting a report to the Government of Maharashtra. Prof. Jondhale talked about the missing perspective from the margins that concerns reflecting the issues of SCs/STs and the issues of dropouts and how to stop them. Mr Mandar Shinde highlighted calling the student 'left out' of the school rather than 'dropping out'. A lack of self-initiative among the children was felt, and it was pointed out that poverty is not the cause of the dropout rate among children. The issue of urban migration from rural regions was also discussed. In addition, the policy of the Academic Bank of Credit system was also a point of discussion. Lastly, a consensus was reached that the right to education and constitutional values are non-negotiable. It was concluded that we should collaborate on the work to implement an inclusive New Education Policy.
